Karachi [Pakistan]: Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur believes fast bowler Sohail Khan is 10 years late to make a comeback and that his chances of now making a return to the national team is `very slim`.
Although the 49-year-old appreciated the efforts put in by Sohail in all formats of the game, he played down the chances of the fast bowler once again playing for the country.
“The systems might have failed him long ago, but if 10 years ago he had done what he is doing right now, then who knows how big an international player he would have become,” the Dawn quoted Arthur as saying.
Arthur further insisted that if Sohail would have worked hard a decade ago, then the situation would have been quite different.
“But I keep telling him that he is 34-years-old now while we have got many younger players who are playing really good cricket at 23 and 24 years of age. Unfortunately, that is the harsh truth,” he said.
The South African-born coach, however, dismissed the suggestion that there are any personal issues between the duo, saying that he and Sohail enjoys good relation.
“I and Sohail enjoy good relations and I admire the hard work Sohail has been doing. He has altered his mindset and has been bowling well,” Arthur said.
Sohail played his last match for Pakistan in Lahore when World XI travelled the country for three-match T20I series.
The fast bowler, who has not appeared in ODI and Test side since late 2016, failed to impress in the only game he played against World XI and was eventually dropped from the national side.(ANI)