Mickey Arthur rejects Pakistan Cricket Board’s offer to return as coach

The PCB said it was in discussions with Mickey Arthur for a new stint as head coach but the South African won't be able to take up the role right away as he has a long-term contract with Derbyshire.

Mickey Arthur has spurned an offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to return as the head coach of the national team, forcing the board to continue its search to find a replacement for incumbent Saqlain Mushtaq.

The PCB on January 10 said it was in discussions with Arthur for a new stint as head coach but the South African won't be able to take up the role right away as he has a long-term contract with Derbyshire.

"Owing to his long-term contract with Derbyshire, we have also discussed a proposal to act as a consultant to the PCB on a time-sharing basis with Derbyshire," PCB said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, however, this option is proving difficult to materialise for various reasons on both sides. Under the circumstances, the PCB will continue its search for the right person to fit the slot of the national team head coach and some top names are already under consideration."

A highly well-placed source in the board told PTI that Arthur is not coming because of the unreliable environment in Pakistan cricket, something which he has experienced in the past.

"The truth is when the PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi opened talks with him and told him to rejoin as the head coach, Arthur said while he would very much like to work in Pakistan cricket again he had not had pleasant experiences in the past with the board,” the source said.

“Arthur told Sethi that the PCB management led by Ehsan Mani during the World Cup in 2019 had assured him his contract would be extended. But after Pakistan didn’t make the semi-finals despite winning four matches on a trot his contract was not honoured.”