An education program in Sports Psychology & Professional ethics for younger age group cricketers in Pakistan

[Bhaijaan]

Brothers please give your thoughts if it makes sense to you all.

I feel because most of Pakistan’s cricketers come from humble backgrounds and low educational qualifications, they tend to exhibit uneducated conduct on and off the field. Not meant to be a taunt but just a genuine take often acknowledged by fellow brothers in Pakistan as well.

So a not so difficult 6-12 months kind of a customized educational program for these young cricketers could help them develop their professional or sports acumen alongside their cricketing education. A diploma can be awarded to cricketers who successfully complete those course which can be a part of their resume for future selection considerations maybe.

Will take least amount of funding from PCB, but more efforts to convince players to enrol for it or just make it mandatory?

Let’s be honest, SENA players come from very high quality education systems and Bharat players make up for their lack of education through IPL exposure to good coaching and professional set ups.

Until PSL, isn’t able to deliver similar level of professional education to a large pool of players, something like this could be worth considering?

@Saj @MenInG @Markhor @Mamoon @MMHS @jnaveen1980 @Major @Geordie Ahmed @Amjid Javed @W63L35




Sorry only tagging elite and high intellect posters here. Rest of my friends don’t mind this. I’m not betraying or berating any of you.

 

[Markhor]

I'm all for it. Intikhab Alam once wrote a report after a tour saying the players were mentally deficient and lacked basic education. That was 15 years ago !

 

[Bhaijaan]

I'm all for it. Intikhab Alam once wrote a report after a tour saying the players were mentally deficient and lacked basic education. That was 15 years ago !

Let’s be honest, our players are kind of same level maybe marginally better. I think we can also implement it.

I hope the powers think about it and implement a training : educational program to help the players reach bare minimum intellect /professional level which SENA players naturally have due to their superior education system and upbringing. No shame in admitting.


As long as we are making efforts to improve, no shame in being truthful about it.

 

[hassan918]

Education Programs will definitely be an advantage in any field and these kind of programs will surely help the young cricketers to manage their cricketing career better.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Posters can you please give suggestions what modules you would prefer in the course.

How do you suggest PCB structure it.

 

[Bhaijaan]

FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy is celebrated not only for its exceptional football training but also for its commitment to the holistic education of young players. In addition to developing technical and tactical skills, La Masia provides a structured academic curriculum, life skills training, and personal development programs. This integrated approach ensures that players from diverse backgrounds, including those who might come from less-educated environments, have the opportunity to build both a sports career and a solid educational foundation.

FC Barcelona’s model has been widely discussed in sports education literature and media outlets as a benchmark for combining athletics with academics.

In England, the FA has long recognized that athletic talent alone is not enough to guarantee long-term success. Their youth development programs emphasize the importance of education alongside intensive football training. Many academies affiliated with the FA offer dedicated educational support, including tutoring and partnerships with local schools. This model not only refines football skills but also prepares young athletes for life beyond the sport, especially for those who might not have had strong educational opportunities initially.

The NBA Academy Africa is a relatively recent initiative aimed at unearthing and nurturing basketball talent across the continent. What sets this program apart is its dual focus on athletic excellence and academic achievement. The academy provides rigorous basketball training alongside a comprehensive academic curriculum. This ensures that young athletes from underprivileged backgrounds not only excel in sports but also have the educational tools to secure their future, regardless of whether they ultimately pursue professional basketball careers.

New Zealand’s rugby development programs often include partnerships with educational institutions, where regional rugby academies provide both high-level training and formal education. These programs are designed to support talented players who come from challenging backgrounds, ensuring they receive an education that can serve as a safety net and a springboard for diverse career opportunities outside of sports.

 

[ElRaja]

you cant fix these problems with a 6 month course, the same way you couldn't improve their fitness by making them lug rocks across hills with the army. it is a lack of professionalism and a lack of personal pride, they do not want to get out of their comfort zones because its not the modern Pakistani way. its all group think and fitting in.

guys like imran, javed, wasim, younis, misbah, etc, were all relative outsiders and individualists; these character types have disappeared from Pakistan cricket completely. for all his mertis, inzi and his imposition of the group culture destroyed individual expression and accountability in the team.

You need a social shift, back to Pakistan of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, where a minor streak of individualism was tolerated despite strong cultural norms.

 

[Bhaijaan]

you cant fix these problems with a 6 month course, the same way you couldn't improve their fitness by making them lug rocks across hills with the army. it is a lack of professionalism and a lack of personal pride, they do not want to get out of their comfort zones because its not the modern Pakistani way. its all group think and fitting in.

guys like imran, javed, wasim, younis, misbah, etc, were all relative outsiders and individualists; these character types have disappeared from Pakistan cricket completely. for all his mertis, inzi and his imposition of the group culture destroyed individual expression and accountability in the team.

You need a social shift, back to Pakistan of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, where a minor streak of individualism was tolerated despite strong cultural norms.

Firstly brother apologies for not tagging you, i forgot you because you been posting less. You’re one of my all time favorites.

Of course, ideally we need a man educational reform at the national level but that’s a much bigger challenge behind PCB’s reach so they can keep on waiting for reforms at the national level or until then maybe use some funds to have some simple but effective educational programmes of their own.

We missed the boat with ZAB, who should have done this but that’s a bigger debate not fit for this subsection.

 

[Bhaijaan]

guys like imran, javed, wasim, younis, misbah, etc, were all relative outsiders and individualists; these character types have disappeared from Pakistan cricket completely.

Interesting thoughts. In its early decades Pakistan and Bharat both had many characters that were actual outsiders from their mindset. Jinnah, AK, ZAB and here in Bharat we had MKG, PJN who were like half outsiders with their Oxford, Harvard intellect.

It was more prevalent in Pakistan. Pakistan was much like Lebanon, Pre revolution Iran kinda country till 70s , very different from what it is today actually. Pakistan was more modern than Bharat for a long time. We had our major break in 90s only when we started to modernize.

Until 90s, Pakistani politicians were more suited to international diplomacy than our leaders. You had big dominant personalities. Not to say they always made the right decisions, that’s a different debate but for sure our leaders were seen as simple people while yours were always more extravagant high spending elites.

 

[ElRaja]

Firstly brother apologies for not tagging you, i forgot you because you been posting less. You’re one of my all time favorites.

Of course, ideally we need a man educational reform at the national level but that’s a much bigger challenge behind PCB’s reach so they can keep on waiting for reforms at the national level or until then maybe use some funds to have some simple but effective educational programmes of their own.

We missed the boat with ZAB, who should have done this but that’s a bigger debate not fit for this subsection.

the pcb cant even add value in training technical cricketing skills, how can we expect them to add value in educational skills. the PCB is a joke institution run to lace the pockets of the cronies who get to enjoy being in its employ. the cricketers use it as a spring board to get league contracts.

there is nothing stopping any of these guys loading up a video on youtube and learning about communication, language, sports psychology, etc. the modern internet for all its failings has democratised knowledge like no other generation in history. if you do not have the personal desire to grow and develop, being forced to sit in random courses will teach you nothing.

i would like to see mentally developed individuals playing for Pakistan, but its not gonna be from this kinda endeavour, especially given that no person with any intellectual potential even considers staying in Pakistan anymore.

 

[ElRaja]

Interesting thoughts. In its early decades Pakistan and Bharat both had many characters that were actual outsiders from their mindset. Jinnah, AK, ZAB and here in Bharat we had MKG, PJN who were like half outsiders with their Oxford, Harvard intellect.

It was more prevalent in Pakistan. Pakistan was much like Lebanon, Pre revolution Iran kinda country till 70s , very different from what it is today actually. Pakistan was more modern than Bharat for a long time. We had our major break in 90s only when we started to modernize.

Until 90s, Pakistani politicians were more suited to international diplomacy than our leaders. You had big dominant personalities. Not to say they always made the right decisions, that’s a different debate but for sure our leaders were seen as simple people while yours were always more extravagant high spending elites.

yes, but this was also partially because the bigger political personalities, on the military side at least, were cultivated by western powers. zab was essentially a western educated zamindar, by nature and upbringing having the natural entitlement to dominate others.

my point was more inline with the Pakistan i grew up in, in the nineties, there were local counter cultures, there were local narratives, stories, social sentiments, etc. with globalisation, local cultures and movements died everywhere, and were supplanted by global trends, which were wholesale considered western and bad by the social norms, so everyone just fell into line of a group think.

just to give an insight of cricket, u had boys who wd go around, pick up their friends on bikes, and go play games all day in different parks, bet on games for money, those kinda personalities grew into wilder, more extravagant and far more competitive cricketers than the guys who are playing today. as far as i can tell, the informal cricket scene in pak is totally dead now.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Let's start with just education

 

[Major]

If amir had atleast 12 years of education, he would have had a better career

 

[Bhaijaan]

In Bharat, several state cricket associations have initiated programs that integrate cricket training with educational support, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals. Here are some notable examples:-

1. Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA):-

• Sanjay Jagdale MPCA Academy: Established in 2008 at Holkar Stadium, Indore, this academy focuses on nurturing young cricket talent. It offers regular cricket coaching complemented by education, ensuring that players develop both athletically and academically. The academy also provides nutrition guidance, health check-ups, and fitness management. Sub-academies have been set up in Gwalior, Sagar, Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Rewa, and Jabalpur to reach a broader base of young cricketers.

2. Kerala Cricket Association (KCA):

• CASH-Kerala Program: KCA adopts and trains around 500 school children annually through its cricket academies. This initiative emphasizes the importance of balancing education with sports training, ensuring that young cricketers receive academic support alongside their athletic development.


• Operation Gold Hunt: Another program by KCA, it focuses on identifying and training selected young athletes, providing them with the necessary resources to achieve higher goals in both cricket and education.


3. Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA):

• Himachal Cricket Academy: Founded in 2008 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, this academy offers regular cricket coaching integrated with education. The program includes systematic fitness management, specific nutrition plans, regular health check-ups, and purposeful recreation, aiming to produce well-rounded cricketers. Sub-academies have been established across all twelve district headquarters to make the program more accessible.


4. Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS):
• Cricket Academy: Affiliated with the National Cricket Academy, CSCS operates an academy that provides cricket training alongside educational support. Instructors from the National Cricket Academy regularly visit to offer guidance, ensuring that young cricketers receive comprehensive development opportunities.

 

[kingusama92]

I don't think simple short-term education programs will do anything.

What they need is some form of combined academy/schooling setup that nurtures talented young players. They should be entering the academy as kids and then going through the system receiving their education while playing cricket. Identify 50-100 prospects and have them go through that system. For prospects that are found at an older age, you also include them in the academy right away.

It would incentivize the parents too because at least their kid is getting educated even if they don't make the international team.

It would take serious investment from the PCB but this is the best way for them to get to the root of the problem.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Messi’s story in this regard is so inspirational. Remember if Barcelona youth academy didn’t invest in him from his early teens m, the world would not have seen one the greatest footballers and sporting icons of all time.

At the age of 10, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a condition that required expensive medical treatment involving daily hormone injections. The cost of the treatment was more than his family could afford, and though several local clubs, including River Plate, admired his talent, none were willing or able to take on the financial burden of his medical care ($1000/month).

In the year 2000, when Messi was just 13 years old, a trial was arranged with FC Barcelona through family contacts and football agents. During the trial, Carles Rexach, one of Barcelona’s top scouts, immediately recognized Messi’s brilliance. He was so impressed that he famously offered Messi a place at the club and promised to cover all of his medical expenses, a deal that was unofficially agreed upon on a paper napkin, which later became a legendary symbol in football history.

Messi and his family moved to Spain, and he enrolled in Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia. The transition was not easy. As a young teenager, Messi struggled with homesickness and had difficulty adjusting to a new culture and language. But La Masia became more than just a football school for him, it was a place that offered structure, discipline, and a sense of belonging. The academy focused on the all-round development of its players, combining education with top-level football training, while also ensuring the players received proper nutrition, psychological support, and medical care.

Physically, La Masia helped Messi continue his hormone treatment, which allowed him to grow and reach his full height of 5 feet 7 inches. In terms of football development, the academy was instrumental in refining his skills. Messi was trained in the famed Barcelona playing philosophy — possession-based football known as “tiki-taka,” which emphasized short passing, movement, and technical precision. His natural dribbling, balance, vision, and quickness were honed to an elite level under the watchful eyes of La Masia’s coaches. He trained alongside other future stars such as Gerard Piqué and Cesc Fàbregas, all of whom were being shaped by the same system that valued intelligence, creativity, and teamwork.

La Masia played an essential role in Messi’s rise. Without it, Messi might never have had the opportunity, support, or structure to develop into the player he became. The academy didn’t just provide training; it gave Messi a home, helped him grow as a person, and shaped him into a symbol of Barcelona’s identity and success for more than two decades.

No wonder Messi played with so much pride at Barcelona: The club changed his life and helped him become the player and icon he is today.

 

[Bhaijaan]

my point was more inline with the Pakistan i grew up in, in the nineties, there were local counter cultures, there were local narratives, stories, social sentiments, etc. with globalisation, local cultures and movements died everywhere, and were supplanted by global trends, which were wholesale considered western and bad by the social norms, so everyone just fell into line of a group think.

It’s a real discussion. I think Pakistan really had an identity in its formative few decades. Don’t take it otherwise but there’s been too much obsession with Arab world, trying to talk, look, do stuff like them, and somewhere down the line Pakistan lost its unique identity of modern Islamic nation which could have been a ray of hope for minorities and Muslims all over the world.

We saw the impact of it in cricket also gradually. Pakistani cricket teams of 80s, 90s had a personality their parents were born in a different era and gave those teachings to their kids to enable them to become such strong characters. The players of today are kids of 90s people who themselves grew up in a nation whose DNA was forcefully altered by hardliners.

Like i said, Pakistan, Pre Revolution Iran, Lebanon etc were very similar kind of nations with similar values. All 3 nations are nothing like their former selves today.

 

[Bhaijaan]

I don't think simple short-term education programs will do anything.

What they need is some form of combined academy/schooling setup that nurtures talented young players. They should be entering the academy as kids and then going through the system receiving their education while playing cricket. Identify 50-100 prospects and have them go through that system. For prospects that are found at an older age, you also include them in the academy right away.

It would incentivize the parents too because at least their kid is getting educated even if they don't make the international team.

It would take serious investment from the PCB but this is the best way for them to get to the root of the problem.

This sounds very good actually. But as you mentioned yourself this would take a massive funding but no doubt this will solve the absolute problem.

PCB, Pakistan state governments, schools must come together to find a solution.

This can do wonders

 

[jnaveen1980]

Afghan players come across as professionals. They communicate well.

 

[zarak]

you need cricketing professionalism. How to train beyond comfort zone how to analyze your game how to evolve.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Something like this can be worked out.

1. Pakistan government to make sports mandatory for top schools to get highest accreditation with special focus on cricket.
2. PCB to set up scouting for Under 10 age kids all over Pakistan to identify cricket talent / athletic ability. These days many parents put up videos on social media also which keep getting viral. Those kids can also be part of this scouting.
3. Pakistan government to allocate funding for sponsoring tuition fee of these kids to top schools with mandatory quota and 50% discount on tuition fee for PCB scouts identified children.
4. From the age of 10 at which they would be in class 4-5, as they’re getting education at top schools, in parallel PCB to sponsor their admission to cricket academies accredited by PCB who will work in partnership with PCB.
5. From academy level matches between different zones, superior talent to be identified by the age 15 for progress to Under -15, Under-17, Under 19 level cricket. Side by side progress in education to be made mandatory.

 

[Bhaijaan]

@mominsaigol @Rana @Syed1 @Bullet Drive @DRsohail @Dr_Bassim @IAJ @Mobashir @KingKhanWC @the Great Khan @Savak @shaz619 @RedwoodOriginal @Suleiman @RidiculousMan @Slim

 

[mominsaigol]

Brothers please give your thoughts if it makes sense to you all.

I feel because most of Pakistan’s cricketers come from humble backgrounds and low educational qualifications, they tend to exhibit uneducated conduct on and off the field. Not meant to be a taunt but just a genuine take often acknowledged by fellow brothers in Pakistan as well.

So a not so difficult 6-12 months kind of a customized educational program for these young cricketers could help them develop their professional or sports acumen alongside their cricketing education. A diploma can be awarded to cricketers who successfully complete those course which can be a part of their resume for future selection considerations maybe.

Will take least amount of funding from PCB, but more efforts to convince players to enrol for it or just make it mandatory?

Let’s be honest, SENA players come from very high quality education systems and Bharat players make up for their lack of education through IPL exposure to good coaching and professional set ups.

Until PSL, isn’t able to deliver similar level of professional education to a large pool of players, something like this could be worth considering?

@Saj @MenInG @Markhor @Mamoon @MMHS @jnaveen1980 @Major @Geordie Ahmed @Amjid Javed @W63L35




Sorry only tagging elite and high intellect posters here. Rest of my friends don’t mind this. I’m not betraying or berating any of you.

Sports Psychology education has no relevance here?

You don't need to be educated to know the basics of fitness and health in relations to sports.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sports Psychology education has no relevance here?

You don't need to be educated to know the basics of fitness and health in relations to sports.

What’s your advise brother in this regard