Last Update on: November 3rd, 2023 at 04:47 pm
Mickey Arthur emphasized that the players have missed the freedom they typically enjoy while on the road during long tournaments.
Mickey Arthur highlighted that the players have only managed to go out three times to restaurants with heightened security to dine.
Pakistan Director of Cricket Mickey Arthur expressed displeasure over the strict security measures for the players in the ICC World Cup 2023. Mickey Arthur stated that these measures have limited the players’ interactions and confined them to their hotel rooms.
The Babar Azam-led team has not lived up to expectations in the World Cup, despite their familiarity with subcontinental conditions. The Men in Green have managed to secure three victories out of seven games, which came against the bottom four teams in the table.
We’ve Been Under A Massive Amount Of Security – Mickey Arthur
Speaking ahead of the New Zealand-Pakistan match, Mickey Arthur emphasized that strict security measures have posed difficulties in maintaining the players’ mental well-being and comfort during the long World Cup campaign.
“What has been tough is the fact that we’ve been under a massive amount of security. And to be fair, I found it difficult. It’s almost like we’ve been back in the COVID times, where you were almost secluded to your floor and your team room,” Arthur said, as quoted by TOI.
“So much so that their breakfast is in a separate room to everybody else. Our boys are used to being on the road. But when they’re on the road, they’ve still been able to get out and have meals at different places, and get out on their own accord, and we haven’t been able to do this time. That’s been tough and stifling.”
The hotels accommodating the Pakistan contingent are continuously monitored to guarantee the safety of the players and officials. The BCCI is taking security measures due to historical tensions and diplomatic issues between the two nations.
The Guys Have Been Out Three Times – Mickey Arthur
Mickey Arthur mentioned the team’s attempts to create enjoyable activities within the confines of their hotel rooms but emphasized that it couldn’t replace the experience of engaging with the outside world.
“It’s like Groundhog Day. You have breakfast, and if it’s a non-training day, you’re back to your room. We’ve tried to have sort of little fun team events within our team room. But 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, just to give them a little bit of a taste of the outside world,” Arthur further stated.
