Getting used to conditions hugely important, says Arthur

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s success on the New Zealand tour depends on how soon the players acclimatise with the conditions there as all efforts have been made to use the days prior to the one-day series in the best possible manner, claimed Pakistan cricket coach Mickey Arthur during an interview.

Pakistan cricketers went through hard training ahead of the side match against New Zealand. Arthur is confident the three-day strenuous training will help the Green-shirts. “We have tough three days of training ahead of the only side match and effort has been to get adjusted to conditions as early as possible. Our success lies in getting used to conditions as early as possible and we have done enough in this respect during the last three days,” he said.

Pakistan head coach said the bowlers had been asked to bowl fifteen overs per session to ensure that they were well on track.Arthur admitted that for batsmen it had never been easy to adapt to the conditions quickly.

“Early days have been really testing for batters on these tracks. Following three days of training session, things are much better now,” he claimed. He claimed that outside the sub-continent, batsmen’s defense holds the key.

“In testing conditions it is the defense that holds the key outside the sub continent. Efforts have been made to overcome that issue in the shortest possible time available before the start of the series,” said Arthur.

The series starts with an ODI at Wellington but before that the team will be up against New Zealand XI at the picturesque Saxton Oval (Nelson).“The practice match on Wednesday would give us early clue as whether the hard work we have done is paying off,” the coach said.

Arthur said it had never been easy for a team to come to New Zealand and start performing immediately.“The series is tough and demanding but at the same time I am hopeful of performing and confident that our batters are capable enough to face the seam attack that New Zealand has these days,” he added.

The head coach said that unlike West Indies, Pakistan were all set to give New Zealand a tough fight.“I can assure you that Pakistan would not be pushovers. New Zealand would have to play well to win and they would not find winning easy against Green-shirts,” Arthur said.

He said Pakistan could match New Zealand in every department. “I can assure you we can match in every department. It all depends as how early we get used to the conditions.” The coach said the team for the side match comprised Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmad, Shahdab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir and Ruman Raees.