ICC World Cup 2019 | Wanted to commit suicide after India loss, says Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur

06/25/2019

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has sensationally revealed that he wanted to commit suicide following his team’s 89-run loss to arch rivals India and the public and media backlash that ensued. Pakistan, however, have kept their slender World Cup hopes alive as they came back to beat South Africa.

The India-Pakistan World Cup clash had started gaining steam months before the extravaganza even began instantly after the Pulwama terror attack. While some opined that India should have boycotted the match against Pakistan, others were stated that beating them on the cricket field would have been the perfect answer.

And India’s resounding win was, in many ways, a satisfaction that Virat Kohli and Co. couldn’t have given by even lifting the title. However, while everything has been well at the Indian camp, things bore a grim look in the other end.

The 89-run defeat was followed by intense public backlash and media criticism, so much so that skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was publicly vilified and Arthur has now revealed that he felt like committing suicide. “Last Sunday I wanted to commit suicide,” Arthur said, reported AFP.

“But it was, you know, it’s only one performance. It happens so quick. You lose a game; you lose another game; it’s a World Cup; media scrutiny; public expectation, and then you almost go into sort of survival mode. We’ve all been there,” the Pakistan national coach added.

After the defeat had brought a dent in Pakistan’s World Cup semi-finals hopes, the team bounced back with a 49-run victory over South Africa in the very next match lifting the coach’s confidence. However, they are in dire need to win their remaining three matches owing to their inferior net run-rate and would be facing an in-form New Zealand in Birmingham on Wednesday.

“We always keep telling our players, it’s one performance. Who is going to stimulate us today?” Arthur added.