Arthur should use Pakistan greats’ valuable experience: Geoff Lawson

Micky Arthur is Pakistan’s fifth foreigner coach following Richard Pybus (twice in 1999 and 2002-03), Bob Woolmer (2004-07), Geoff Lawson (2007-08) and Dav Whatmore (2012-14).

He was appointed for the job on May 06, after Waqar Younis had resigned as head coach last month following team’s poor show during the T20 World Cup in India.

In an interview with mid-day website at a cricket camp, organised by Payyade Sports Club in association with Global Cricket School in Mumbai, India, the ex-Australian cricketer said Arthur should fathom the local culture before setting his course of action.

“As long as he understands how the local culture works and how to get the best out of the players, he’ll succeed,” he said.

The former right-arm pacer told Arthur how to create win-win situation.

“It’s a big advantage to be a foreign coach in Pakistan as you don’t have to worry about what other people think. Rather than fighting with ex-players, he needs to get them on his side.

“Their experience is valuable and you’re got to use it. During my time, I tried to get former players to come and speak to the team. It would be silly not to use the experience of the likes of Wasim Akram or Javed Miandad,” said the Australian.

Arthur, who turns 48 later this month, successfully coached his native South Africa from 2005-2010 before migrating to Australia, where he remained coach of the national team for 19 months.

“If you go as coach into another system, you have to understand how it works. You can grow a certain culture, but you can’t transplant it somewhere else. You have to try and work with the present one. That’s what coaches have to do and that is part of their job. Arthur probably didn’t understand how the Australian culture worked and he got sacked,” said Lawson.