Despite the disappointing loss against the Islamabad United and being unable to reach the final of the Pakistan Super League, Karachi Kings coach Mickey Arthur vowed that the team will come back much stronger when given another opportunity on Wednesday.
“It was really disappointing last night. That was our worst game of the competition. Ronchi played exceptionally well, but we scrapped hard to get back in the game on the back of a really good competition between Denly and Ingram,” he said while speaking to ARY News.
Arthur admitted that the tone was not set well enough, and was focused on Ronchi who took the game away from them. However, he vowed that the team will emerge stronger when given another opportunity.
“It is amazing what pressure does to you, and more so as the competition goes further. When there are death red consequences, as there was last night, that’s when there is more pressure and more mistakes are made.”
“So we got be better than that and come back stronger on Wednesday,” he vowed.
When asked about the fact the team gelled so well this year especially with the presence of foreign players such as Tymall Mills, Joe Denly and Colin Ingram, he said it was the reason they were recruited and helped to give good team value, help the younger players and their performance which they delivered.
“It’s been a great team to be part of. We have really structured, organised, and played some really good cricket. But hopefully our best cricket is yet to come,” he said.
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Arthur was also asked if the team management’s plans to reply on more dependable players rather than big names is making in more easily manageable.
“We know each other well now. In the first year, we were finding our feet, and in year two we gelled really well, and this year we got a great deal for our team.”
“There has been a significant improvement. We have gone from fourth to third to second, if you look at the table, and can hopefully reach number one.”
When asked that Imad Wasim and Shahid Afridi, despite facing injuries, create the ‘electricity’ within the team which was carried by Amir and Usman Shinwari, Arthur said that having a good team in which everyone knows the roles creates that phenomenon.
“All the teams here are exceptionally good, so you never have an easy game. Every game here makes a tough contest, and that’s what has made the competition so good.”
Arthur said that as the competition intensifies the team that hold its nerve, stays calm and doesn’t panic and can execute, will be the one which emerges to the top.
He refused to pick his preference between the Peshawar Zalmi and the Quetta Gladiators for the next match, but said they will pick their best combination after the match tomorrow.
