Is insecurity a major problem in Pakistan cricket?

[Saj]

We keep hearing about how Pakistani players are reading comments about themselves on twitter, before, during and after tournaments and series. How they watch television channels to see what so-called experts are saying about them, how they get concerned about what is being written about them on social media platforms.

I've had players write to me complaining regarding comments made about them on PakPassion (that were constructive criticism and in no way abusive).

I've also had family members of coaches and players write to me about what people are writing on PakPassion about their family members (once again they were constructive and certainly not abusive).

I've had a player threaten me and want to fight me for putting some accurate statistics out there on twitter and then subsequently apologising for his actions.

In addition I've had players and coaching staff and their family members complain to me about why in an interview we had not mentioned them favourably by name, even though the player we interviewed said absolutely nothing about them.

As well as the above I have had people linked to players write to me complaining about why we had praised particular individuals on social media and in our articles and interviews.

I know it's dog-eat-dog in Pakistan cricket, but the levels of insecurity seem to be reaching new heights.

Does Pakistan cricket have a problem with insecurity and what can be done about it?

 

[Pakistanian]

I'd say it's universal, cuts across all sports and nationalaties. A lot of NBA players are sensitive about social media comments, a big star like Kevin Durant literally used "burner accounts" (fake accounts) to respond to his critics and defend himself On twitter you can even see billionaires get offended by comments and write long essays in response, I wonder why they need to bother replying when they're so rich but I guess it's human nature. Humans are insecure in nature, there are many big sportsman that don't like certain journalists just cause they don't write positively about them.

 

[nextover666666]

Very good post

I do think it's a universal thing but I find it's really a bigger problem with south Asian team. Not just in sports in any aspect of life, desi people don't like to be critized

The only way this can be tackled is change in mindset by the newer generation that critisism can be a good think and we should always look to improve

 

[emranabbas]

Social media has distroyed the world

 

[muqarrab]

We keep hearing about how Pakistani players are reading comments about themselves on twitter, before, during and after tournaments and series. How they watch television channels to see what so-called experts are saying about them, how they get concerned about what is being written about them on social media platforms.

I've had players write to me complaining regarding comments made about them on PakPassion (that were constructive criticism and in no way abusive).

I've also had family members of coaches and players write to me about what people are writing on PakPassion about their family members (once again they were constructive and certainly not abusive).

I've had a player threaten me and want to fight me for putting some accurate statistics out there on twitter and then subsequently apologising for his actions.

In addition I've had players and coaching staff and their family members complain to me about why in an interview we had not mentioned them favourably by name, even though the player we interviewed said absolutely nothing about them.

As well as the above I have had people linked to players write to me complaining about why we had praised particular individuals on social media and in our articles and interviews.

I know it's dog-eat-dog in Pakistan cricket, but the levels of insecurity seem to be reaching new heights.

Does Pakistan cricket have a problem with insecurity and what can be done about it?

Why does this read like Azhar Mehmood's family?

 

[topspin]

It sums up the victim mentality of our players and coaches. If only they could realise, they could gain from if they worked hard on their technical skills, fitness and diets.

The onus is on you as professionals representing the Pakistan team to change the perception among the fan base.

If anything there is no shortage of the green tinted hype brigade on here, who never shy away from the chance to cheerleed mediocrity like Faheem Ashraf.

 

[Ahmed_99]

100%. The only way someone can improve is if they are aware of their short comings. I'm sure some of our players find it difficult to either identify their flaws or just cannot take it if they are given constructive feedback. They need to be able to see their flaws and then work hard to improve otherwise we will continue to have the problem where our players seem to regress.

However I do have some sympathy for the players because I think we need to instill confidence in them so players aren't playing for their place, but instead all working together to win matches for Pakistan. It's a fine balance though becuase nobody is entitled to representing Pakistan. They all need to constantly work hard and improve because there are so many players who would sacrifice anything to be in their positions.

 

[Hasan]

It is only natural for insecurity to be at the forefront of players minds. Remember these are people with limited resources, very little in terms of education (alt careers to fall back on) and they operate in a culture where respect for an individual is limited.

I still find it shocking that people contributing on PP make comments about ending careers for nothing short of loss of form. These commentators on PP are people who have never played or experienced international cricket!

And the power of social media should not be discounted, forums such as PP, which is great site also has a responsibility to ensure that an appropriate balance is maintained between free speech and unfair treatment of individual players and administrators.

I also think that PBC needs to support and protect its players against harsh and unfair criticism across all media platforms. These are young adults thrown into the deep end and they have to be supported.

This is important to protect them as individuals and to ensure they perform to the best of their abilities.

We need to learn to respect our players as human beings. The recent example of what happened with Sarfraz is an example of how nasty people can become.

And do believe that sites like PP can go a long way to achieving this end.

 

[Thephenom]

Criticism is part of any sport, it’s exploded with the scourge of society that’s social media, you take valid criticisms on board and ignore the negative ones, most of all we will never be successful until we drag our cricket into the 21st century!

 

[CleverSir]

I think it is a major problem. I also think the root causes for this problem is the lack of professionalism in Pakistani cricket at all levels. From club cricketers making no money (thereby having to furnish a living for themselves completely), to FC/List A/T20 national level tournaments not having contracts with job security.

If I have a 2 year contract (lets say with South Punjab Team under the presumed new system), I can set my roots down for 2 years and focus year round on cricket. I know I have a consistent income coming. I can focus on training and bettering myself. If I don't have that and have to get a contract tournament to tournament then in between I need to find a new job to keep things a float my focus will not be on cricket. I believe that once a player is established and has a sense of some security, then these twitter criticisms, forum comments fall by the wayside because my job isn't dependent on these peoples opinions.

 

[gazza619]

Players need to cut down on social media, simple as that.

Somebody like Virat Kohli should be the benchmark for modern day players. I have noticed many a times when Kohli is asked in interviews about a certain issue with a player, he has responded by saying he wasnt aware. No wonder he has reached to such heights.