Yasir Arafat To Join Pakistan Team As Bowling Coach Assistant To Mickey Arthur Reports

In a recent development, former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat has been appointed as the new bowling coach assistant for the national team. He will be working under head coach Mickey Arthur ahead of the Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup next year. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Arafat’s appointment on a 2-year contract starting September 2022. In this post we talk about Yasir Arafat To Join Pakistan Team As Bowling Coach Assistant To Mickey Arthur Reports.

Arafat’s Credentials

Yasir Arafat represented Pakistan in 3 Tests, 50 ODIs and 13 T20Is between 2007 to 2013. The veteran all-rounder was mainly known for his medium pace bowling and ability to hit big shots lower down the order.

After retirement, Arafat gained coaching experience in domestic cricket and T20 leagues around the world. He has worked with the Quetta Gladiators franchise as bowling coach in the past few Pakistan Super League seasons.

Arafat’s understanding of T20 cricket and success with the Gladiators prompted PCB to appoint him on the national team. His expertise should bolster the coaching staff led by Mickey Arthur going into the T20 World Cup next October.

Role and Responsibilities

As the bowling coach assistant, Arafat will work closely with head coach Mickey Arthur to formulate strategies and training plans for the pace bowling unit. With the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah in the squad, Pakistan possesses an envious pace attack.

Arafat’s primary responsibility will be providing technical expertise to the fast bowlers and monitoring their workloads alongside physio Cliffe Deacon. He will also give throwdowns in the nets and provide match simulation training before games.

Additionally, he will analyze opposition batting lineups and give tactical inputs to Arthur for bowling plans. Arafat’s recent experience of playing in T20 leagues helps understand the nuances of the shortest format.

Mickey Arthur’s Vision

Incumbent head coach Mickey Arthur has welcomed Arafat’s appointment and believes he will complement the support staff well. Speaking to the media, Arthur said:

“Yasir Arafat brings a fresh perspective as he has played with and against most of our current team members in domestic cricket and leagues like the PSL. His inputs will be invaluable, especially in the T20 format where we need to build a world-class bowling unit before the World Cup.”

“My vision is for Yasir to work closely with our batsmen in match scenarios at training and strengthen their technique against pace bowling. With his understanding of local conditions, he can take the bowling attack to the next level. I look forward to working closely with him.”

Benefits for Pakistan Bowling Unit

The Pakistan bowling attack comprising Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Shahnawaz Dahani looks well-settled. But Arafat’s expertise and insights will help them add new skills and variations ahead of the World Cup.

He can share valuable knowledge about minimizing errors in line and length with the express pace attack. Furthermore, Arafat’s experience of UAE conditions where the World Cup will be held gives Pakistan the edge.

Youngsters like Mohammad Hasnain can also benefit greatly by working alongside Arafat in the nets. Overall, the move signals PCB’s intent to build a strong and versatile bowling unit before the T20 World Cup.

Conclusion

Yasir Arafat’s appointment as Pakistan bowling coach assistant is a strategic move by the PCB ahead of major tournaments. Arafat brings a wealth of playing experience and recent coaching exposure that will aid head coach Mickey Arthur. He can collaborate with Pakistan’s world-class pace attack and help them develop new skills, especially in the T20 format. The expertise of Arafat combined with Arthur’s coaching acumen will boost Pakistan’s preparations for the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup in the next 12 months. I hope this Yasir Arafat To Join Pakistan Team As Bowling Coach Assistant To Mickey Arthur Reports post helps you.