Arthur to sign ‘online’ coaching contract today in meeting with Najam Sethi

ISLAMABAD: Following his arrival a day earlier, the Pakistan cricket team’s high-profile ‘Online’ Director Coaching Mickey Arthur will hold a formal meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee head Najam Sethi here today (Wednesday).

Arthur — who is on a two-day contract signing trip to Pakistan — is scheduled to hold meetings with Sethi, skipper Babar Azam and chief selector Haroon Rashid.

English County Derbyshire head coach got a few-day break in between the County engagements to meet the PCB management committee’s officials and discuss the roadmap of preparation in the run-up to the ODI World Cup in October and later for the away series against Australia in November-December.

“Mickey will not be available in person most of the time during these months till the ODI World Cup. As director coaching his presence will be online barring a few occasions when he is expected to join the team, especially for mega events,” a well-placed source confirmed The News.

The publication learnt that a formal meeting between Sethi and Arthur is expected today where all the details of his contract will be discussed and the signing of the contract will take place.

“Mickey Arthur’s trip to Pakistan is more for holding final negotiations which now has become a mere formality. The signing of the contract is also expected on Wednesday.”

Arthur's pick Grant Bradburn will continue to act as the head coach of the national team during this period. He will stay in constant touch with the director coaching on the technical side.

“Mickey Arthur's meeting with the team's support staff, captain and the chief selector is also due within the next couple of days,” the source confirmed.

When Sethi was approached on WhatsApp he also confirmed that the meeting is due on Wednesday.

The PCB management committee’s 120 days in office are to expire on April 22 and so far, there has been no extension notification or no fresh orders from the patron on two members’ nominations.

The corridors of power in Islamabad are so far silent on the next move. “What is in store for the PCB, no one knows at this point in time,” a source told The News.

Though Arthur is expected to sign a long-term contract with the PCB, the general view is that the management committee should have left it for the permanent board to take a long-term decision. 

“Once a permanent set-up is there, such appointments should have been made. Till that time series-to-series arrangement would have been the most viable and sensible option,” an official said.

A day earlier, Arthur met the players at the team hotel in Islamabad and had light conversations with all team members.