South African-Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur is currently head coach of Derbyshire. The veteran signed a contract with the county cricket club through 2025. In order to get Arthur onboard, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly found a unique solution. As per several media reports in Pakistan, PCB has managed to convince Arthur to make himself available for Pakistan in 'online mode', making him world cricket's first online head coach.
Arthur will be physically present with the team only when he feels it necessary and not for every series, but confusion persists whether he will be named Pakistan's head coach or a consultant.
Reacting to the news, former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi lashed out at PCB and urged the decision-makers to hire someone from within the country.
"Well, even I don't know what type of coaching will happen or what the plan is. The concept of online coaching by a foreign coach for the national team is beyond comprehension," Afridi told local media.
"Why only foreign coaches? Pakistan do have good coaches here. I know PCB also takes into consideration where the person is presently involved in politics. But all those should be kept aside in cricket so that we get a person who can take the tough calls which eventually makes a good team," he added.
“I am personally in negotiations with Mickey and we have resolved 90 percent of issues. Hopefully, we will very soon share the news that Mickey will be joining us. I’d like him to build his own team of coaches once he is here,” Najam Sethi reportedly said last week.