We can't take West Indies lightly: Pakistan coach

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We cant take West Indies lightly: Pakistan coach

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur with his players during a practice session

Dubai - Arthur hopes team can carry the momentum

By James Jose

Published: Mon 19 Sep 2016, 9:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 20 Sep 2016, 10:12 PM

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur hoped that the team can carry the momentum gained from the fag end of the England series on to the series against the West Indies.
The Pakistan ODI team ended the five-match series with win in Cardiff after which the T20 team beat England in the one-off T20, earlier this month.
Pakistan are set to play three T20s against the current world champions in the format - the West Indies - and Arthur hoped they can continue the same way.

Logo of Haier presents Brighto Paints Cup 2016 - Pakistan vs West Indies T20I & ODI series #PAKvWI pic.twitter.com/JHwBtKmY4i
- PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 19, 2016

"They (the wins) were very important because it gave us a real direction. I think it gave us a proper direction as to how we want to play our one day cricket, particularly, and then to take that over to the T20. The performance of the T20 team was outstanding. So, that was really encouraging. And I was obviously happy for the one day team to get that win in Cardiff. That was really important to us and hopefully, the T20 team and the one day team can carry that momentum through to the start of the series," Arthur said ahead of Pakistan's practice session at the ICC Cricket Academy on Monday evening.
Arthur also said that they are well prepared despite playing just that one-off T20 against England.
"We have played a lot of cricket of late so the guys have been playing cricket. Whether you are playing one day cricket, T20 cricket, whatever it is, as long as you are playing, the skills are sharp. We just have to hone those skills and we have a week to do that and we have four training sessions to get that right. So, I'm pretty confident that the guys will be ready. A lot of our guys have played in the domestic competition at home anyway. So, they have been playing T20 cricket," he said.
Despite Pakistan being familiar with the conditions, Arthur warned against complacency against a formidable West Indies team.
"West Indies are a really good T20 team, I mean they are the current world T20 holders so, we certainly cannot take them lightly even in conditions like this. And the West Indies conditions are pretty similar to conditions here anyway. So, they are going to be a formidable opposition we are going to have to play really well to beat them," said the South African.
james@khaleejtimes.com