Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur met members of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team in Derby at the invitation of mentor Wahab Riaz, sharing insights on adapting to English conditions while inspiring them ahead of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Arthur spoke to the team about adapting quickly to local environments and emphasized the importance of effective execution of game plans on the field. During this interaction he appreciated the skill level, attitude and commitment of the players.
“You have the potential. If you play according to your plans, winning is not difficult,” Arthur told the players, urging them to remain confident and disciplined throughout the tournament.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s success in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Arthur highlighted how the team had adapted to the local conditions. He emphasized that unity and teamwork were central to that success.
“The players showed great teamwork, were active and energetic and that’s why they got the win,” he said.
He further advised the women cricketers to acclimatize to the conditions as early as possible before taking to the field to showcase their full potential. He concluded by congratulating the team on their success and encouraged them to “fight hard for victory” in the upcoming matches.
Notably, Arthur was appointed Pakistan head coach in May 2016 following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign and led the team to the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 title, including a 180-run win over arch-rivals India in the final.
During his tenure, Pakistan reached the top of the rankings in both Test and T20 cricket.
His stint ended in August 2019 after Pakistan finished fifth in the ICC Cricket World Cup group stage. He then returned to a part-time role as team director in April 2023 while serving as chairman of cricket at Derbyshire.
Following Pakistan’s group-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup in India, Arthur and his coaching staff moved to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and later stepped down from the PCB posts in January 2024.
For those who don’t know, Pakistan’s women’s team will begin their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against arch-rivals India on June 14 at Edgbaston before taking on South Africa at the same venue on June 17.
Pakistan Squad for 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup:
Fatima Sana (catch), Alia Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Ayman Fatima, Gul Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneefa Ali Siddiqui (week), Nashra Sundu, Natalia Pervaiz, Ramin Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Zabeen, Tasmia Roop, Tasmia Roop.
Reserves: Amber Kainat, Momina Riyasad, Sadaf Shamas, Chitra Amin, Syeda Aroop Shah and Umm-e-Hani.
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