PSL4 top performers will be considered for World Cup squad: Arthur

Pakistan Cricket Team Head Coach Mickey Arthur has said that top performers from the upcoming edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be taken into consideration, while selecting squad for 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

While talking to media in Lahore, after returning from tour of South Africa, Arthur said the fourth edition of PSL will provide a good opportunity for players to come in reckoning for national side.     

"I think we've got probably 19 players for 15 positions. PSL always throws up one or two good individual performers, so we are going to have a look at some of our borderline players, the guys that we are not sure about,” said Arthur. “We have to look at them during the Australian series and then we will make our minds up leading into England, obviously we will be taking 15 there. The key is players get clarity in terms of their roles and role clarity is particularly important."

Arthur also spoke about the plans the Men in Green will have to put in place, in order to be successful at the mega event.

"The other thing that's important for us is having an option with two game plans," he said. "I'm saying two game plans because the weather in England at any given time is very unpredictable, so we need an option where we have our spinners, who are able to suffocate through the middle [overs] because the key for us to win one-day games is about taking wickets through that middle period.”

He added: "Either we do that with two spinners or little bit of reverse-swing if the weather stays dry, or if the weather is wet over that period of time there we have to have an option of a seam-bowling all-rounder who can come in and bat at No. 7 for us. So we're very close, we've covered all our bases in terms of our personnel at the moment."

The 50-year-old also said that the players, captain, team management and selection committee are all on the same page heading into the World Cup.     

"Our planning is done. We've got our schedules, we've got everything in place leading upto the World Cup. Myself, Inzamam and Sarfaraz [Ahmed] have been completely united in the process that we are going forward," he said.

Arthur also backed Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and was not worried about the latter’s batting form.

"Sarfaraz will be the first one to admit that his batting form has come and gone. We have worked exceptionally hard on Sarfaraz's batting going forward. When Sarfaraz plays well, he wins games for us,” he said.  “I want to reiterate I am not worried about Sarfaraz's form. Sarfaraz Ahmed is a very very good cricketer. He and I work incredibly close together, we've got very close working relationship, as good as I had with any captain. I just need to put that to bed."