Mickey Arthur is excited about working with the Pakistan team once again as the South African is set to be appointed as consultant for the men’s side.
However, Arthur will continue as English county side Derbyshire’s head coach where he is one year into his four-year deal.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted Arthur to work full-time as head coach with the national team but that approach fell through, last December, since the 54-year-old considers his project with Derbyshire “really important”.
"I'm very excited by that opportunity because Pakistan is very dear to me," Arthur told ESPNcricinfo. "But Derbyshire is as well. That was one of the things that I kept saying to Najam Sethi [chair of the PCB] when he spoke to me — that Derbyshire was really important to me.
"I've got a four-year contract here and I'm only year one into a project. With my proposal and schedule I've put in place, I know that it is possible. But the nitty-gritties, we're just going through at the minute.”
Arthur also stated that he has a good relationship with the current Pakistan players.
"I kept in touch with all those players anyway. I've seen them grow up in front of me. The challenge is when I had them they were young boys," he added, before joking: "They've grown into men with egos now!"
"Managing them is going to be important, but I've got great relationships with all of them. I just can't wait to put that all together. I know I can and it's going to be quite an attractive package for both Derbyshire and Pakistan."
Arthur has previously served as head coach of the Pakistan team for three years, having taken up the mantle in 2016. During his tenure, Pakistan also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.
However, the PCB had decided to not renew the contracts of Arthur and his support staff, following the team's fifth-place finish at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.
According to sources, the PCB has nearly finalised all the details with regards to the coaching staff and an official announcement is expected soon.
Additionally, sources added that New Zealand’s Grant Bradburn, who has worked as Pakistan’s fielding coach in the past, could be named as head coach, meanwhile former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel is in the mix for the role of bowling coach.
- Mickey Arthur