Aim to lift Pakistan to top of world rankings in all formats: Coach Mickey Arthur

Lahore: Pakistan’s new head coach Mickey Arthur vowed on Thursday to lift his new team to the top of world cricket rankings as he did with his native South Africa. He arrived in Lahore on Wednesday night to take over his new role, which had been vacant since the resignation of Waqar Younis in April following Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the World Twenty20. “My short term plan is to create a cricket culture and the long term plan is to make the team number one in all three forms of the game,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_1066643” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Mickey Arthur. Reuters[/caption] Pakistan are currently third in Tests but their standing in limited overs cricket — ninth in one-day internationals and seventh in Twenty20 — leaves much room for improvement. “Our Test cricket seems to be very good at the moment,” said Arthur. “If we can play well outside the subcontinent that means that the team’s really going forward.” The 48-year-old had a glorious coaching career with South Africa between 2005-2010, taking them to the summit of Test rankings in 2008, following series wins in England and Australia. He also lifted them to number one in one-day cricket in 2007. His 19-month tenure as Australia’s coach ended on a bitter note when he was sacked a few days before the 2013 Ashes in England after his team crashed out of the group stages of the ICC Champions Trophy. Arthur’s first task as Pakistan’s coach will be to help the team face an ascendant England side on their home turf in a four-match Test series starting at Lord’s on 14 July. Pakistan also have series against the West Indies in United Arab Emirates (September-October), two Tests in New Zealand (November) followed by three Tests and six one-day matches in Australia. The South African, who has been given a two-year contract, which is negotiable after 12 months, also praised fast bowler Mohammad Amir, due to play his first Test since being convicted in a spot-fixing case on the team’s last tour to England in 2010. “Amir is a fantastic professional,” he said. “I am only interested in making him the best and other stuff is irrelevant to me and what people say about him.”