Sri Lanka are raring to play international cricket again even though India have postponed a tour planned for this month because of the global pandemic, coach Mickey Arthur said Friday after his team completed a first post lockdown training session.

The 'return-to-play' programme begun at the start of this month had been a success, Arthur told reporters as he wrapped up the first residential training for 13 players.

"We have done a lot of conditioning and every day we have upped their bowling," Arthur said. "So they are almost ready in the next month, they will be ready to play cricket."

The next training session is due in about a week even though Sri Lanka still have no idea when they will play again.

India, who were due to visit Sri Lanka this month for three one-day internationals and three T20 matches, have called off the tour because of the pandemic.

Read | Sri Lanka's cricket team train with eye on international restart

Cricket on the island came to a halt on March 13 when England pulled out during a practice match ahead of a two-Test series.

Arthur had customised home-training regimes for many players in the national team after the lockdown was imposed on March 20.

A 24-hour curfew in Colombo was eased on May 27, but a night curfew is still in force.

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said getting back to training after idling during the 24-hour curfew in the capital was not easy.

"Even when we are training in the first day it was really hard, but now I am shaping and I am getting my fitness back," Karunaratne said.

"We are trying to bounce back and play good international cricket."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) axed coach Mickey Arthur on Wednesday after the team failed to progress through group stage in a disappointing World Cup.

Arthur's contract expired after last month's World Cup, won by hosts England, and the South African had asked for a two-year extension.

But Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ehsan Mani said Arthur and his assistant coaches Grant Flower and Azhar Mahmood had all been shown the door.

Reports say Arthur has been shortlisted as the next England coach after Trevor Bayliss departs following the ongoing Ashes Test series.

"PCB will be immediately undertaking a robust recruitment process after it decided not to renew the contracts of head coach Arthur, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, batting coach Grant Flower and trainer Grant Luden," the board said in a statement.

Pakistan's new coaching staff will be appointed after a four-member committee assesses the team's performance at the World Cup, it said.

Pakistan lost heavily to arch-rivals India at the World Cup but finished with a record of five wins from nine matches, including one game that was rained off.

They scored 11 points were unlucky to be pipped to the semi-finals by New Zealand -- who also had 11 points -- on net run-rate.

The PCB committee, which includes former captains Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq and which met on Friday, was unanimous in calling for new coaches.

"The committee comprised of individuals who possess tremendous acumen, experience and knowledge," Mani said. 

"The unanimous recommendation of the committee was that it was time for new leadership and a fresh approach."

Feature Image: AFP/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur admitted his side's failed World Cup campaign left him with mixed feeling as they crashed out despite beating Bangladesh by 94 runs on Friday.

To reach the semi-finals, Pakistan needed to rewrite the record books with the biggest margin of victory in a one-day international.

But they came up short as their 315-9 meant Bangladesh had to be bowled out for just eight at Lord's.

That impossible task was quickly put to bed as Bangladesh reached eight runs in the second over, allowing New Zealand to join Australia, India and England into the semi-finals.

Pakistan secured 11 points in nine games, as many as New Zealand scored, but were ousted on an inferior net run-rate.

Arthur, whose contract with Pakistan ends after the tournament, said it was a disappointing conclusion to a campaign that had plenty of highs and lows.

"It hasn't ended as we would have liked to have ended it. It's been a campaign of ifs and buts," Arthur told reporters.

"If we have a look through our first five games and we have a look through our last five, it's a campaign of two halves, which has been disappointing."

Pakistan had just one win, against hosts England, from five games with three defeats, including a loss to arch-rivals India, and a no-result.

They staged a comeback by winning the next four games but still failed to qualify.

Arthur said the task of achieving a huge win against Bangladesh was targeted at the start but became impossible due to the slowness of the pitch.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a discussion. We won the toss, which was a good start. Getting 400 is a platform. The message we got from Fakhar (Zaman) when he came back in the change room was it was slow and tough to score," Arthur said.

Arthur admitted a seven-wicket defeat against the West Indies in the first game hurt his team badly.

"If we go back, the West Indies game, the first game of the tournament, when you lose like we lost, it's almost impossible to get back on net run rate, that was disappointing," said Arthur.

Arthur labelled his team's wins over semi-finalists England and New Zealand as the main highlights.

"It's nice to sit here and know we've beaten two of those top four teams during our campaign, which shows we are not a mile off in terms of where we are as a cricket team," he said.

Arthur praised Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed for helping the resurgence after being severely criticised for the India defeat.

"I must say that I'd just like to credit the captain, Sarfaraz. What he was exposed to after the Indian game was atrocious as a Pakistan cricket captain, as any captain of any cricket team," he said.

"The way he held his composure, the way he led from the front, the way his work ethic never, ever changed. I think he's been an inspiration to that dressing room, and I think Sarfaraz deserves a lot of credit for this."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Lindsey Parnaby

Head coach Mickey Arthur is desperate for Pakistan to have their World Cup destiny in their own hands when they play Bangladesh on Friday.

England's victory over India on Sunday made it harder for Pakistan to reach the semi-finals and another win for the host nation against New Zealand on Wednesday would effectively end Pakistan's chances of qualifying from the round-robin stage.

"How they (India) played, again that's the issue which we can't control," said Arthur.

"Obviously, I was following the game intently and was disappointed that India did not get up because that would have opened the door for us.

"Now all we want is to get to Friday with a real opportunity and our destiny in our own hands."

Pakistan hope New Zealand can recover from two straight defeats to beat England at Chester-le-Street, which would open the door for Pakistan to reach the semis by beating Bangladesh at Lord's on Friday.

"I just hope New Zealand get it done for us," said Arthur, whose team have nine points, one behind England and two behind New Zealand, with one match to come for each side.

"If New Zealand don't (win) then we hope England win by a big-enough margin and then we calculate what we have to do with our net run-rate, which I think is probably too much."

Pakistan had a disastrous start to the World Cup when they were shot out for a paltry 105 by the West Indies, who chased down the target in just 13.4 overs.

"I think when we look back in the tournament the thing that really haunts me is the defeat against the West Indies," said Arthur of the seven-wicket loss in Nottingham.

"That was the game, right at the start of the tournament. We should have fired right at the start, but we didn't, and it hurts now."

Pakistan shocked England in their second game but Arthur said a washout against Sri Lanka in Bristol sapped their momentum.

"We had the momentum straight after the England win and then to have a washed-out game meant we almost had to start all over again and train indoors, so it was disappointing."

Pakistan lost to Australia and arch-rivals India before winning three consecutive games against South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan to revive their chances.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Saeed Khan

Head coach Mickey Arthur has claimed Pakistan's World Cup defeat against bitter rivals India was so painful that it left him wanting to "commit suicide".

Pakistan suffered a bruising 89-run loss to India in Manchester on June 16, a result which sparked a furious backlash from their frustrated fans.

The defeat put Pakistan's hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals in grave danger.

And, although they kept alive their slender last-four hopes by beating South Africa on Sunday, Arthur admitted the India loss left him feeling desperately low.

"Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide," Arthur said.

"But it was, you know, it's only one performance.

"It happens so quick. You lose a game; you lose another game; it's a World Cup; media scrutiny; public expectation, and then you almost go into sort of survival mode. We've all been there."

Arthur's emotional comment may have been exaggerated to show how passionate he is about his job.

But some fans feel the South Africa-born coach's words are in bad taste given Pakistan's former coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes during the 2007 World Cup.

Pakistan lifted Arthur's spirts with an impressive 49-run win against South Africa at Lord's.

They now need to win their remaining three matches and improve their inferior net run-rate to have a chance of finishing in the top four and advancing to the semi-finals.

Pakistan play New Zealand in Birmingham on Wednesday.

"We always keep telling our players, it's one performance. Who is going to stimulate us today?" Arthur added.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / Pakistan Cricket

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has vowed to remind his players of the "cornered tigers" spirit which Imran Khan instilled in his team-mates to win the 1992 World Cup.

An 89-run defeat by archrivals India in Manchester on Sunday has left Pakistan's hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals hanging by a thread, with only minnows Afghanistan below them in the 10-team table.

Yet Pakistan now find themselves in exactly the same position as when they won the 1992 World Cup -- a tournament which, like this one, featured a round-robin group phase.

They now have three points from five matches with only one win -- a surprise success against hosts England -- three defeats and a no-result.

As happened in 1992, Pakistan started this World Cup with a defeat by the West Indies.

But 27 years ago they had a famous rained-off match against England at Adelaide and that single point gained from the washout helped Pakistan sneak into the semi-final.

Then they beaten minnows Zimbabwe and lost to South Africa and India before defeating Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in their last three group matches.

Pakistan also had to rely on Australia beating the West Indies to claim the last semi-final spot, where they downed co-hosts New Zealand before upstaging England in a Melbourne final.

Khan, now the prime minister of Pakistan, had famously worn a T-shirt with "cornered tigers" written on it and said at the toss he wanted his players to play like tigers.

Arthur lamented Pakistan's start to this World Cup by telling AFP: "It is disappointing to be in such a position.

"We can't change the past but can influence the future and I will definitely remind my players of the spirit of 'cornered tigers'," the experienced South African coach added.

But Pakistan's task will be tougher than in 1992 as they have to not only win their last four matches but also improve their inferior net run-rate of minus 1.93. 

They will also have to hope other results go their way.

Pakistan next play South Africa at Lord's on Sunday before facing New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Arthur, whose contract will be reviewed after the World Cup, said he will do his best to lift the team.

"I will be doing everything I can and using all my experience to make this happen," he said.

Arthur, who guided Pakistan to the 2017 Champions Trophy title, said: "I love this team. I love Pakistan so I will definitely use all my experience to inspire this team." 

Sunday's reverse meant Pakistan have lost all seven of their World Cup matches against India.

But they also lost a group match to their fellow subcontinental cricket giants in 1992.

"We are extremely disappointed with the defeat, but we have to put it behind us and stand together and come back strong," Arthur said.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

Pakistan's head coach Mickey Arthur urged his players to become heroes by beating bitter rivals India when the two meet in the 2019 ICC World Cup match at Old Trafford on Sunday.

India have won all six previous meetings in World Cups, but Arthur has told his players to rise to the occasion. "It doesn't get more exciting," said Arthur on the eve of the match. "I am telling our players in the dressing room, you could be a hero tomorrow.

"Your careers are going to be defined by a moment in the game. You do something incredible tomorrow, you'll be remembered forever."

Arthur has already guided Pakistan to one famous victory over India in the Champions Trophy final two years ago and knows what to expect from the biggest clash in cricket.

But there is even more pressure on Pakistan to deliver as after winning just one of their opening four games of the tournament, a third defeat could be fatal to their chances of progressing to the semi-finals. "Obviously, there's a massive hype that's created a lot of time by the media really," said Arthur of the media war across the border with mocking television advertisements.

"There's always pressure in any game, and these games carry exactly the same amount of points."

India on the other hand are unbeaten after resounding wins over South Africa and Australia and a no-result against New Zealand. But Arthur is hopeful of repeating the early flood of wickets taken by Mohammad Amir in the Champions Trophy final.

"We're comfortable that we can get out there and perform, and we are so excited about the opportunity tomorrow," he added.

"When you get into the Indian top order, you can create a little bit of havoc."

Arthur also backed struggling batsman Shoaib Malik to come good after managing just eight runs in three matches so far. "What I do know is Shoaib Malik brings a hell of a lot to our dressing room. He is an incredible team man. He has incredible skills, and I'm hoping that, on the biggest stage tomorrow, those skills come to the fore."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur insisted his side would benefit from a 4-0 one-day series defeat by World Cup hosts England when the showpiece tournament starts later this month.

AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

England, the world's top-ranked ODI side, triumphed by 54 runs in Sunday's finale at Headingley as, not for the first time this series, Pakistan's bowling and especially their fielding let them down.

Yet the match was the first time in a completed innings this campaign where Pakistan, bowled out for 297, had failed to post a total of 340 or more.

But Sunday's game did see Babar Azam follow up his 115 at Trent Bridge on Friday with 80, while captain Sarfraz Ahmed made 97 before being run out in unusual fashion by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.

Arthur insisted he was in a much better mood now than he had been after Pakistan suffered a humiliating 124 run-opening defeat on the Duckworth/Lewis method by India in Birmingham at the 2017 Champions Trophy -- an ODI tournament they bounced back to win by defeating their arch-rivals in the final.

"We were beaten hands down at Edgbaston that day and I didn't really know where to turn because there wasn't a hell of a lot of positives out of that day," said Arthur.

"We sit here having taken a huge amount of positives out of this series.

"I thought our batting has gone to another level.

"People, coming to England, said we were a 280 team. We've dispelled that, that's given our batting unit a massive amount of confidence in the dressing room."

- 'We'll be ready' -

Moreover, Arthur was adamant the series against World Cup favourites England would help Pakistan.

"The other thing is we've played against a team who are number one in the world in their own conditions.

"I know there's not too many teams who will arrive in England as prepared as we are in terms of the competition we've played against and match-fitness," explained Arthur, previously a coach of both his native South Africa and Australia.

"All I know is the players are very determined to do well. Every time they go out there they play for 210 million people.

"We'll be ready -- come the first game against the West Indies, we'll be ready.

"I'm as confident we'll do well as I've ever been."

Meanwhile, Arthur said left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, recently sidelined with chicken pox, could yet make it into Pakistan's final 15-man squad for the World Cup.

"Mohammad Amir trained yesterday (Saturday). He had 25 minutes on a bike and a gym session. He had another one today so if selected he'd be ready to go.

"In terms of selection, Inzi (Pakistan selection chief Inzamam-ul-Haq) and I will talk tomorrow (Monday) to finalise our squad.

"We've got until May 23 to get our team in."

Pakistan's fielding looked to be improving when they were in England last year. This latest series, however, saw Pakistan drop routine catches and give away runs with sloppy outfielding.

"It's been very disappointing," said Arthur, who insisted the decline in standards was not down to former Australia wicket-keeper Steve Rixon quitting as Pakistan's fielding coach in September over a pay dispute.

"That's a real worry for me because we are putting a hell of a lot of effort into it and there's not a massive amount of reward there at the moment.

"We'll just keep knocking away at it though.

"Fielding is about attitude and wanting to get out there and get it done.

"They (the players) know they've been short in this department and they are not happy about it. They are working damn hard at it."

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur on Friday criticised the pitches for the first two Tests against South Africa, saying they were not good enough for Test cricket.

With his team facing a series defeat after two days of the second Test at Newlands, Arthur said the quality of pitches had deteriorated in the ten years since he coached the South African team.

On the back of a century by captain Faf du Plessis, South Africa built a winning position, reaching 382 for six, a first-innings lead of 205 runs. Du Plessis made a patient 103 and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 156 with Temba Bavuma (75). Quinton de Kock made a breezy 55 not out late in the day to reinforce South Africa's dominance.

Arthur acknowledged that the South African total did not back up his argument about the quality of the pitches but said he did not believe the pitches made for a fair contest.

"I am disappointed. I haven't been back to South Africa in a cricketing capacity since 2010. The standard of the wickets at Centurion and here hasn't been good enough for Test cricket," he said.

He cited inconsistent bounce, with balls rearing out of cracks, which had led to seven stoppages for injuries to batsmen on Friday. 

"I can understand it if it gets to day four or five because that's what happens in Test cricket and so it should, but it shouldn't make your first innings a lottery."

Arthur said Du Plessis and Bavuma deserved credit for the way they had batted in the conditions and added that the extra pace of the South African bowlers had been a big factor in Pakistan being bowled out for 177 on the first day.

"The difference is that South Africa bowled at 145 (kilometres an hour) plus and we were at 135 today. Those 10 kilometres on a wicket like this make a significant difference."

-- 'Challenging and tricky' --

Bavuma said batting conditions had been "challenging and tricky but not impossible."

He added: "You've got to make peace with the fact that you're going to take a few (balls) on the body."

Bavuma appeared to have been caught by Azhar Ali at first slip off Mohammad Abbas when he was on three. The on-field umpires gave a "soft" signal of "out" but asked for television umpire Sundaram Ravi to check whether there had been a clean catch. Ravi decided the ball had made contact with the ground while the catch was being taken.

"I wasn't 100 percent sure, which I was why I stood at the time," said Bavuma.

The incident was similar to one at a critical stage of the first Test in Centurion, also involving Azhar Ali, when Dean Elgar survived against Shaheen Shah Afridi after Wilson reversed the on-field decision.

Arthur was fined a demerit point after going into the match referee's room and criticising Wilson at Centurion but he said Azhar himself had not been sure whether he had made a clean catch. "It was different from last week," said Arthur.

Du Plessis, out for a pair during South Africa's six-wicket win in the first Test in Centurion, showed patience and resolve in an innings lasting six minutes short of six hours. He faced 226 balls and hit 13 fours.

He gave a chance on 96 when Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, could not hold a faint glance down the leg side off Abbas.

Abbas bowled a probing line and length but had a largely luckless day, as did Mohammad Amir, who went past the edge of Du Plessis' bat on several occasions.

Bavuma, who hit a solitary Test century against England three seasons ago, made his 13th half-century before being caught behind off left-armer Afridi, bowling around the wicket. Bavuma faced 162 balls and hit ten fours.

Afridi was the most expensive of the Pakistan bowlers, conceding 112 runs, but he picked up three of the four wickets that fell during the day, including that of Du Plessis on review after umpire Wilson failed to detect a faint edge.

Feature picture courtesy: AFP