Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur has opened up about the challenges his team is facing due to the tight security at the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Arthur compared the situation to being back in COVID times, stating that the players are almost secluded to their floor and team room.
Pakistan has arrived in India for the prestigious tournament under several travel restrictions and tight security due to the political conflict between both countries. Arthur revealed that the team has been struggling to cope with the situation, which has had a negative impact on the players.
“As a Pakistan team, we play a hell of a lot of cricket, so being on the road is nothing new for these guys. What has been tough is the fact that we’ve been under a massive amount of security,” Mickey Arthur was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
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“So, I’ve sort of taken it back. And to be fair, I’ve found it difficult. It’s almost like we’ve been back in COVID times, where you were almost secluded to your floor and your team room. So much so that their breakfast is in a separate room from everybody else. So, it’s almost been the tough aspect,” he added.
Mickey Arthur said, “we’re feeling suffocated under such a heavy security. It feels like we’re in a COVID period”.#HardikPandya #PrasidhKrishna #Injury #INDvsSA #WorldCup2023india #CWC2023INDIA #ICCCricketWorldCup23 #IndianCricketTeam #NZvsPAK #PAKvsNZ #ENGvAUS #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/rEZwCRCxyk
— Roarclub (@Roarclubnews) November 4, 2023
Arthur also talked about how tight security and travel restrictions have had a big impact on the players. He stated that the side has arranged for fun little events within the team, but that has not been enough.
“It certainly does. It definitely does, and I’ve seen it with some players where it has been; you wake up again, and it’s like Groundhog Day. It’s exactly the same. You have breakfast, and if it’s a non-training day, you’re back in your room,” Mickey Arthur said.
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“We’ve tried to have sort of little fun team events and whatever within our team room. But you know, there’s only so much you can recreate. I think the guys have been out three times – we’ve managed to do that with security, get them out to a different restaurant or whatever, just to give them a little bit of a taste of the outside world,” he concluded.
Arthur’s comments have highlighted the challenges that Pakistan is facing at the World Cup 2023 due to the tight security. It remains to be seen how the team will cope with the situation in the remaining matches of the tournament.
