ICC World Cup 2023: Mickey Arthur backs Pakistan Team's transformation from 'boys to men' from 2019 to 2023 showpiece

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ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: An air of optimism surrounds the Pakistan cricket team as it gets ready for its World Cup campaign at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. The Babar Azam-led side is considered to be one of the teams to watch out for like always but this time around, there's extra positivity in the camp.

According to Pakistan's team director Mickey Arthur, the fresh faces that joined the team in 2019 have matured significantly over the last four years, and the South African claims it is the journey where boys become men.

Mickey Arthur watched this Pakistan side up close

Arthur, who formerly coached Pakistan to victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy, has resumed his role with the team. He acknowledges that although his team might not be as advanced as England, they are continuously developing a unique style of their own.

Arthur remarked on the team's progression, stating, "These young boys have now become men. They've become very experienced. And during those four years, we have the best win/loss ratio in ODIs."

The Men In Green began their campaign in the global showpiece by taking on the Netherlands in Hyderabad and are already seen as one of the title contenders due to the balance in the team.

Pakistan's bowling is one of the strongest in the competition despite a rocky run-up to the World Cup - a loss in a warm-up game, and failure to make it to the Asia Cup final. Arthur, however, is confident in his team's ability to play an impactful style of cricket that is distinct from Pakistan.

Backing his statement, he said, "Our bowling attack is up there as one of the best, and with runs on the board, our bowlers can generally defend that." Arthur is hopeful that this unique brand will take them to victorious heights in the World Cup.

Many match winners in Pakistan Team: Arthur

When asked if the team is heavily reliant on Babar Azam and Rizwan Ahmad, Arthur remains supportive of the other players in the squad. Regarding concerns over the inconsistent performance of Fakhar Zaman and the ordinary Asia Cup performance from vice-captain Shadab Khan, Arthur remains supportive of his players.

He bolstered the morale of his squad by expressing his faith in their abilities, highlighting the potential of Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafiq, and Salman Ali Agha. Furthermore, he backed Shadab Khan, stating that his incredible skills have not faded overnight and that he is just one strong performance away from regaining his confidence.

Arthur added further, "Babar and Rizwan are also important but if you look at Imam, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, and Agha Salman are also doing well and important members of the squad."

Shadab Khan is a vital cog: Arthur

He further backed Shadab Khan, who isn't going with the best of form lately, saying the spin-bowling all-rounder needs just one good match to get the best out of his form. The team's vice-captain spent some extra time in the nets on the eve of their tournament opener against the Netherlands, proving the coach and captain rate him highly.

"Shadab is still one of the key players for us. He needs some confidence going into the tournament and all he needs is a good game to get his rhythm back," Arthur said at the pre-match presser.

The prospect of an India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad, which is expected to draw more than a hundred thousand spectators, excites Arthur. He believes the match is one of the highlights of the tournament, stating, "Those (India-Pakistan) games are always a spectacle. I just think it's going to be a great game. But it will be good if we go into that game with the confidence of winning our first two matches."