Arthur insists Pakistan will fight to the bitter end against Proteas

MICKEY Arthur has no doubt Pakistan will be “up for the fight” when they face his native South Africa in the Champions Trophy after a humiliating defeat by archrivals India.

Pakistan’s crushing 124-run loss to titleholders India in their tournament opener at Edgbaston on Sunday was labelled the “Mother of all mismatches” by the Indian Express newspaper.

Yet, worryingly for Pakistan coach Arthur, there is the potential for an even more lopsided match when they return to Edgbaston today – and that’s not simply because South Africa are top of the International Cricket Council one-day international rankings while Pakistan are eighth.

Pakistan were outplayed in every department by an India side who were nowhere near their best.

Having conceded 319/3 as India’s top order ran riot, Pakistan were dismissed for just 164, having never once threatened a rain-adjusted target of 289 in 41 overs.

It led former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, to slam the current team’s “clueless” batting and “abysmal fielding”.

Now, in the space of just a few days, Pakistan must somehow raise their game to beat a SA side who defeated Sri Lanka by 96 runs at the Oval on Saturday in their opening Group B fixture if they are to have any chance of reaching the semifinals.

Arthur suggested too many Pakistan players had suffered “stage fright” against India in front of a capacity crowd of more than 24 000.

But Arthur, a former coach of both SA and Australia, was adamant all was far from lost. — AFP