[EXCLUSIVE] "Babar Azam needs a sports psychologist": Atiq-uz-Zaman

The Bald Eagle

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The first Test against England in Multan saw Pakistan break another embarrassing record, becoming the first team to lose by an innings after posting a score of 500+ in the first innings. As is often the case in Pakistan cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded with some major reactionary steps, including the release of Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the Test squad.

Additionally, a new four-member selection committee was formed, featuring former Test pacer Aaqib Javed, middle-order batters Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali, and, surprisingly, former umpire Aleem Dar.

To discuss these developments, Saj sat down with one of PakPassion's regular contributors and former Pakistan Test wicketkeeper, Atiq-uz-Zaman. An ECB-qualified Level 4 coach, Atiq did not hold back in this explosive interview with PakPassion.

From addressing Babar Azam's poor form to analyzing the deeper issues within Pakistan cricket, Atiq offered a fresh perspective on the challenges currently facing the PCB.

Key Points to look forward to:

1.Another whitewash for Pakistan at home?
2.How Babar Azam made enemies in the media
3.The sad state of affairs in the PCB


 
Until he reaches his former heights and glories again he will always be open to such criticism
I'm sure he will be willing to try anything in order to propagate his own success again
 
Yep they all need psychologists, never thought they would replicate India of last decade.
This is not just Babar who needs help, the whole team is down and under the rubble. These guys are mentally weak, all of them, not just babar.
 
I think the whole Pakistan team needs a psychologist as none of them seem mentally stable these days.
look at what a fresh face and mindset can change things around....

Shan to hide his inability to score runs was talking about backing players even they dont perform and also pushing that idea firmly despite losing streak... Good that the new selection committee (y) had the courage to drop those so called big players who have achieved so less for the hype and fame they received..
 
Babar is a very good batsman. He will be back and score high class runs for his team.
Pak players have very big egos, they are just simply uneducated who fight like kids for that captain spot...
if they make him captain he will start scoring runs just like he is never out of form...
 
Babar has faced a challenging few years, juggling the role of captain, stepping down, and taking the blame for underperformances. During this time, he may have taken his own game for granted and likely didn’t focus as much on improving his personal performance. With the growing criticism from all sides, it would have been easy for him to focus more on the pressures of captaincy, which in turn caused his batting to suffer in the background. Now, he's reached a point where he needs a reset. This break could be beneficial for him, as long as he approaches it with the right mindset—which, frankly, he has no choice but to do.
 
Interesting point that Atiq makes regarding support for Pakistani cricketers.

I know that most other Boards have player support personnel available but I doubt PCB has such people readily available for players.
 
More like PCB and Govt needs psyc evaluation and ECT treatment at max dosage pronto.
 
Sport psychologist might help him with his mental state but he needs to learn how to play spin.

PCB should make a request to the BCCI so he can play in the Ranji Trophy on some of those rank turners. That's the only way he can improve.

If BCCI turn down his request, he can play domestic cricket in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.
 
There is nothing wrong with him or the others. They just got lazy after easy PSL money.
There is nothing wrong with it that a player has to consult a psychologist. Sometimes players do need such support.

Babar's main issue nowadays has more to do with his technique and he looks mentally tired.
 
Until he reaches his former heights and glories again he will always be open to such criticism
I'm sure he will be willing to try anything in order to propagate his own success again
only if he can make up his mind to play like Root, kohli and smith post captaincy well he has an example with Younis Khan , Malik and Hafeez in his own country who played well , remained fit and kept going even under young captain like Sarfraz or else this will be the end of career for him...

In pakistan , captaincy will return at any point of time so he should not keep dwelling in the past and overthinking future about his captaincy alone, instead focus on fitness and performance that will take him higher and become the candidate for captaincy again may be after 3-4 years from now.... He should aim to play like Miandad, Yousuf, Inzi, MYK and Misbah a long lasting career , breaking the record books..
 
There is nothing wrong with it that a player has to consult a psychologist. Sometimes players do need such support.

Babar's main issue nowadays has more to do with his technique and he looks mentally tired.

Could do with some domestic cricket in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka so he can finally learn how to play spin. Out of all the hyped up players, he's like the worst player I've seen against the slower bowlers.
 
Could do with some domestic cricket in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka so he can finally learn how to play spin. Out of all the hyped up players, he's like the worst player I've seen against the slower bowlers.
He played spin fine but his problem started in 2022 I guess.
 
Sport psychologist might help him with his mental state but he needs to learn how to play spin.

PCB should make a request to the BCCI so he can play in the Ranji Trophy on some of those rank turners. That's the only way he can improve.

If BCCI turn down his request, he can play domestic cricket in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.

My brother did you miss the part where he's been nicking everything outside off stump and missing anything inside off-stump against the fast bowlers?

It's not just a spin thing, he's out of form in all aspects, technique vs. pace and spin, old ball or new, tactics, physical fitness, mindset, sab ka bera ghark hogaya hai.
 
Psychologists are overrated. You think people had psychologists back in the day when empires were being built? This mental weakness and need a specialist for everything is why we are where we are. If Babar Azam needs a psychologist to tell him to get his ego in check and start working out and get fit, he may as well retire because he has no future but for a psychologist to help him walk every path.
 
Psychologists are overrated. You think people had psychologists back in the day when empires were being built? This mental weakness and need a specialist for everything is why we are where we are. If Babar Azam needs a psychologist to tell him to get his ego in check and start working out and get fit, he may as well retire because he has no future but for a psychologist to help him walk every path.

No, sports psychology is a thing but only applies if the athlete is maxing out in all areas but not performing.
 
Like he did when he was captain ?..
Well have to give credit where due , yes he did was able to score a match saving 196 against Aussies and also scored centuries in the LOI games against Aus and Nzl at home, including T20 century... It is from the Asia Cup'23 when Zaka replaced Sethi and stop the cash flow for paying salaries , this is where he went short of runs and then knifes being out continuously for keep playing his buddies and backing the snail style of play + no pay since June 2023 under Zaka Ashraf, heard that WC2023 they played without receiving their salary for six months i believe, so all these issues surround his captaincy and focus on his batting , then that leak message..then captain again for T20I WC and finally PCB made him mentally short..
 
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