Rangpur Riders coach Mickey Arthur was all smiles during training sessions, inspiring his charges during the recent Chattogram phase of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). That he is leaving a trail could be surmised in training but also from results, with Rangpur leading the table on the back of eight wins on the trot, but there is a hard exterior beneath the laughter and soft words of the 56-year-old South African-Australian. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi, Mickey revisited their winning campaign in the recent Global Super League (GSL), how it helped transform the mentality of the likes of Soumya Sarkar, and more. The excerpts of the interview are as follows:

The Daily Star (DS): How much of a difference do you see this BPL from your previous stint?

Mickey Arthur (MA): It's my second BPL stint and I did [work for] Dhaka [Dynamites] in 2015. I love the tournament; very fortunate to be part of a very good franchise. I do think the talent pool has gotten bigger, which is great for Bangladesh cricket. Ultimately the BPL has to be good and it has to develop players for Bangladesh.

DS: How was winning the Global Super League with Rangpur?

MA: It was great. It allowed me to work with the players before the BPL so that when I arrived here, we kind of hit the ground running. Winning there meant we had confidence in our ability to win here. We found ways to win from difficult situations. Lot of the world took notice that our competition is good.

DS: You are always in great spirits and smiling during training sessions. But does Mickey get angry too?

MA: I've got to be. The one thing I know with players, if you give them a soft option, the players generally take it in international cricket and top-level cricket doesn't allow you to be soft.

I'm onto the players all the time. Everybody makes mistakes. But you learn from your mistake and don't let it happen two or three times. I have a level of tolerance and then no more. Sometimes that's [tolerance] disguised, because I just want the best for every team I coach.

DS: How are you seeing the development of younger stars such as Mahedi Hasan?

MA: It makes me really proud. Mahedi is a wonderful cricketer. What I like about the players in GSL like Mahedi or Soumya, I was constantly on at them and telling them 'When you go and join your national team, create impact. Take that form and confidence into the next assignment.' Cricket's a funny thing and when you get confidence you overcome a lot of things. It made me very happy.

I think the game's getting better because it's getting more dynamic. Skills are interchangeable [from franchise to internationals] but what changes consistently is the belief in your ability.  I don't believe a player's ever out of form. I believe a player's out of luck, or out of runs, or just out of wickets. What changes is your confidence barometer.

DS: How is Soumya's process now after having lacked that confidence factor?

MA: I'd followed him, I'd coached against him. I understand his game because I've analysed him. Soumya has all the attributes of a very fine international player… but I think what was missing was his confidence because he'd been in and out of the Bangladesh team.

DS: How do you see Bangladesh cricket ahead of Champions Trophy?

MA: I think it's an exciting time for Bangladesh cricket. Some very exciting players are coming through. Bangladesh cricket doesn't need to stand back for anybody, as long as they're confident and have belief in their own ability.