The pressure of expectations is so huge that Pakistan Cricket team coach Mickey Arthur has revealed that after Sunday’s lose to India, he wanted to commit suicide.
It was recall to the tragedy in Pakistan cricket that can never be forgotten, the sudden death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer during ICC Cricket World Cup-2007.
The former Pakistan cricket team coach Woolmer died suddenly on 18 March 2007, in Jamaica, just a few hours after the Pakistan team’s unexpected elimination at the hands of Ireland in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
Shortly afterwards, Jamaican police announced that they were opening a murder investigation into Woolmer’s death. In November 2007, a jury in Jamaica recorded an open verdict on Woolmer’s death, concluded that Woolmer died of natural causes.
Reacting to a question about South Africa performances in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as they were knocked out of tournament after defeat to Pakistan, Mickey Arthur said that they all have went through same thing and last Sunday’s defeat to India he wanted to commit suicide.
“It happens so quick, You lose a game and then another game. It is World Cup, the media scrutiny and public expectations are huge. Then you go into sort of survival mode,” Arthur said.
“We all have been there and after Sundays defeat I wanted to commit suicide. I always tell my players, it is only a matter of one good performance to ignite and stimulate things. The way Fakhar and Imam went their gave us a good start, South Africa need similar type of start from either KG (Kangiso Rabada) or Quinty (Quintin de Cock) to calm the nerves,” Arthur said.
“You are either a hero or villain and it takes only one performances for that,” he added.