Pakistan have underperformed in their World Cup campaign so far, losing four of their seven matches. They must secure big wins in their next three fixtures, including the one versus New Zealand on November 4, to seal a semi-final berth.

On the eve of the New Zealand-Pakistan encounter, Arthur compared the heightened security covers with COVID-19 restrictions, claiming it to be taking a toll on their mental health: “What has been tough is the fact that we’ve been under a massive amount of security. And to be fair, I found it difficult. It’s almost like we’ve been back in the COVID times when you were almost secluded to your floor and your team room.”

Arthur stressed that the tight security protocols have been more arduous than the busy travel schedule, calling it “stifling”.

“So much so that their breakfast is in a separate room to everybody else. Our boys are used to being on the road. But when they’re on the road, they’ve still been able to get out and have meals at different places, and get out on their own accord, and we haven’t been able to do this time. That’s been tough and stifling,” he empathised with his players.

The ramped-up security arrangements for Pakistan were expected in India given the political tensions between the two countries. The last time Pakistan travelled to India was during the 2016 T20I World Cup and they don’t play against each other outside of ICC competitions.

Arthur claimed that the Pakistan players have resorted to recreational activities in their hotel rooms to lighten up the mood with whatever available resources but rued the absence of engaging with the outside world. However, the team managed to leave the hotel thrice as Babar Azam went for a long drive during the last time they came to Kolkata to play Bangladesh.

“It’s like Groundhog Day. You have breakfast and if it’s a non-training day, you’re back to your room. We’ve tried to have sort of little fun team events within our team room. But there’s only so much you can recreate.

“I think the guys have been out three times – we’ve managed to do that with security, get them out to a different restaurant, just to give them a little bit of a taste of the outside world.”

Time and again in the competition, Arthur has stood by his players. Earlier, he blamed the absence of their rallying anthem, ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’, as one of their reasons for losing to arch-rivals India. He also backed under-fire captain Babar and the management after Pakistan’s poor show, requesting the PCB against any knee-jerk reactions.