‘Pakistan players must raise their game’ – Arthur

Mickey Arthur has laid down the gauntlet to Pakistan’s one-day squad as they aim to haul themselves up the rankings to secure an automatic World Cup spot, and says that nobody is safe from the axe should performances not improve.

Pakistan were comfortably beaten in the opening ODI at the Ageas Bowl with England well ahead of the rate when rain brought an early conclusion. Arthur was particularly pointed when referencing some of the older members of the squad, notably Mohammad Hafeez, who was dropped during the Test series and pulled a Joe Root long hop to deep square in the first game, saying he had started scouring the domestic scene in Pakistan for alternatives.

“I said to the players this morning that nobody’s safe. And if you’re over 30 you’ve got to be coming to the table more often than not, otherwise it’s an opportunity to blood some younger players. I’m telling no secrets, nobody is 100% safe in the ODI side and the guys know that. Everybody knows they’re on notice.

“I’ve actually started, the other night, going through potential players …

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