Mickey Arthur seeks help from sports psychologist to fix Pakistan's 'pressure' problem [Update #28]

[SpiritOf1903]

During 2009 there was a Sports Psychologist within the coaching team.

Is there one now as whilst they aren't middle workers, 90% of Pakistani players are mentally unhinged.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

*Miracle workers!

 

[Saj]

No.

They hire the services of Max Babri from time to time.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

No.

They hire the services of Max Babri from time to time.

Is he not in Australia at present ?. They clearly need one.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

I am a qualified psychiatrist (doctor who specialises in mental health)- not a psychologist who is not a doctor.

I would be happy to help.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

I am a qualified psychiatrist (doctor who specialises in mental health)- not a psychologist who is not a doctor.

I would be happy to help.

Probably more appropriate!

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

I quote myself as the biggest Pakistan cricket fan.

If anyone is happy to recommend me, then I am happy to do it.

CBT would be the best way to go.

 

[Saj]

Is he not in Australia at present ?. They clearly need one.

He's not with the Pakistan team.

 

[Laal]

Actually, a PhD psychologist is more apt for this than a psychiatrist.

 

[Fantasy]

Why not to have a psychologist in support staff?

As we see today there are about 10 persons in support staff.......But why not to have a psychologist in supporting staff??I mean just swap one of the specialist coaches with the head coach and give head coach 2 things to work with ,which is, as a head coach and a specialised job to work with bowlers or batsmen....For instance, Pakistan can swap Mushtaq Ahmad who is the bowling coach with Waqar younis ...Give waqar younis 2 jobs HEAD AND BOWLING COACH.....Also I feel Mushtaq Ahmad can be pretty useful in domestic circuit because there are some leggies comming in..This is just an example fellas and dont fire me with quotes like he is not a good head coach how is he gonna handle 2 jobs.....Just an example...

I always fell Pakistan players mostly crumble in pressure more than anything else and in that case sports psychologist can be prepretty useful....

Thoughts??

 

[in_cutter]

Waste of money. Will not make a difference.

 

[Runner Up]

Sports psychologist for the Pakistan cricket team?

Sports Psychologists help professional and amateur athletes overcome problems, enhance their performance and achieve their goals.

Just a thought

 

[Runner Up]

^^ In Pakistan Team Management I mean.

 

[TahirFan]

The Proteas have a sports Psychologist and they hire a motivational speaker before every major tournament but they still keep on choking

 

[Savak]

The sports psychologist cannot bat, bowl, field for the players or do the planning for the captains, coaches.

 

[Sports_Psychologist]

Sports Psychologists help professional and amateur athletes overcome problems, enhance their performance and achieve their goals.

Just a thought

I'm here.. you can't help these guys!! I left my job!!

 

[Runner Up]

I'm here.. you can't help these guys!! I left my job!!

Haha have you tried already?

 

[Stewie]

Importance of a sports psychologist

Most sports team have one. I cant think of a team more in need of one than Pakistan at the moment. We will see a lot of threads pop up after asia cup identifying who needs to stay and go. Some woth merit and some not but there is no denying that our boys could use some help getting mentally ready for pressure situations. Does anybody know if we have a good qualified sports psychologist on PCB staff? One who tours with them?

 

[Usman Chadda]

This team needs it urgently. The way they capitulated in the Asia Cup at even the slightest signs of pressure, is worrying.

 

[Stewie]

Good coaches with skills are important. Also important are good players and captain who can put the coaching staffs plans into action.

But what if you have all the areas covered and then the players freeze like a deer in front of headlights when the pressure is in and they have hidden fears and crisis of confidence? Our preparation in that front seemed to be nil

 

[nextover666666]

People really underestimate the hard work of a sports psychologist he can really help with the teams success not just cricket but I Believe all of Pakistan sports teams should have one. After winning the champions trophy with this young team I was hoping PCB would hire one to keep them grounded

 

[Stewie]

Its a culture thing. We dont believe in that stuff, you are considered weak if you have sich issues and your left to your own devices to get out of such problems. I remember hiw we all ised to make fun of trott, tresco and such here when they pulled out of england duty due to depression. Most of us just dont seem to have any awareness of how real and present this threat is in pro sports. Espexially when millions of people are counting on you. That should take immense toll. It must take a lot of training to just tune that out and focus on the game.

I couldnt help but feel alarmed when i read sarfaraz’s statement how he couldnt sleep for three nights

 

[Savak]

This team needs it urgently. The way they capitulated in the Asia Cup at even the slightest signs of pressure, is worrying.

To be honest, this is more on the captain and coaching staff than anything else. If the captain has such a meak resigned body language under pressure, don't expect the team to perform miracles.

 

[Savak]

Don't think a sports psychologist can teach Pakistani bowlers how to bowl to the batsmen of the top 5 or the bowlers of the top 5.

 

[szundercover]

Don't think a sports psychologist can teach Pakistani bowlers how to bowl to the batsmen of the top 5 or the bowlers of the top 5.

But at least he can give the players the confidence when playing big matches and also most of the team is young and inexperienced so hiring an top sports psychologist wont do any harm...

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Its a culture thing. We dont believe in that stuff, you are considered weak if you have sich issues and your left to your own devices to get out of such problems. I remember hiw we all ised to make fun of trott, tresco and such here when they pulled out of england duty due to depression. Most of us just dont seem to have any awareness of how real and present this threat is in pro sports. Espexially when millions of people are counting on you. That should take immense toll. It must take a lot of training to just tune that out and focus on the game.

I couldnt help but feel alarmed when i read sarfaraz’s statement how he couldnt sleep for three nights

Excellent post. One having pyschological issues is considered weak in our society.

Recently English star woman cricketer Sarah Taylor pulled out of world t20 due to anxiety issues.

 

[nitrous]

Just hire Viv Richards for motivation prior to Pak playing India and all will be well /sarcasm

 

[Abdullah719]

Mickey Arthur seeks help from sports psychologist to fix Pakistan's 'pressure' problem

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur wants a sports psychologist to work with his players, hoping it would it will help them overcome pressure situations during a game.

Surprisingly, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed is unaware of how the sports psychologist will work with the team.

“I have heard about it but I don’t know how he will work with the team. I have never had the chance of working with a sports psychologist but If I do only then can I say how the experience is like. But yes our batsmen are failing to play long innings and crumble when asked to chase a target,” he said.

Sarfraz said that Pakistani batsmen need to get rid of their habit of throwing away wickets after getting set.

Arthur, who has been with the Pakistan team since 2016, had said after Pakistan lost the first Test to New Zealand by just four runs, that crumbling under pressure is a big problem with the team for which a solution was required.

The Pakistan coach said he had suggested using the services of a sports psychologist to work with the players.

This is not the first time that Pakistani players would be interacting with a sports psychologist as in the past such experiments have been done with little or no success.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...gist-to-fix-pakistans-pressure-problem-769898

 

[Savak]

Psychologist to the rescue for Pakistan’s ‘pressure problem’

Psychologist to the rescue for Pakistan’s ‘pressure problem’

Sarfraz said that Pakistani batsmen need to get rid of their habit of throwing away wickets after getting set.

Cricket Updated: Nov 25, 2018 16:42 IS

PTI Karachi

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur wants a sports psychologist to work with his players, hoping it would it will help them overcome pressure situations during a game.

Surprisingly, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed is unaware of how the sports psychologist will work with the team.

“I have heard about it but I don’t know how he will work with the team. I have never had the chance of working with a sports psychologist but If I do only then can I say how the experience is like. But yes our batsmen are failing to play long innings and crumble when asked to chase a target,” he said.

Sarfraz said that Pakistani batsmen need to get rid of their habit of throwing away wickets after getting set.

Arthur, who has been with the Pakistan team since 2016, had said after Pakistan lost the first Test to New Zealand by just four runs, that crumbling under pressure is a big problem with the team for which a solution was required.

The Pakistan coach said he had suggested using the services of a sports psychologist to work with the players.

This is not the first time that Pakistani players would be interacting with a sports psychologist as in the past such experiments have been done with little or no success.

Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...ure-problem/story-p0kIxXfe4sb1AQ1YEpr7QO.html

 

[Hitman]

Won't say much that except it's a really good idea. I really mean it.

 

[Markhor]

Where's the psychologist for Pakistan fans ? We need one too.

 

[Hawkeye]

Lol.

It's been tried many times in the past as well. People have short memories.

It doesn't help.

You need the kind of confidence that Dhawan/Kohli/RS have. That comes from years of dominating bowlers. In packed stadiums.

No psychologist can help.

 

[Savak]

Lol.

It's been tried many times in the past as well. People have short memories.

It doesn't help.

You need the kind of confidence that Dhawan/Kohli/RS have. That comes from years of dominating bowlers. In packed stadiums.

No psychologist can help.

Human beings will remain human beings, anyone in life can lose confidence and have negative self belief. Even someone as invincible as Kohli had a torturous 2014 England tour. Having a psychologist is better than not having one.

 

[ads101]

I think this could be solved by publicizing certain one day and tests domestic tournaments. Perhaps more one day than tests, easier to do.Arrang for them to be televised, and all the national team players to play. Should be easy to generate hype as Pakistan doesn't have any international matches there anyway. I.e. make it like PSL for other formats (except maybe you won't have foreign players). 5 or 6 teams would be good, make them strong like PSL teams.

At the moment list A and first class tournaments aren't exactly valued and very few national team players play in it. Thus we can't see an accurate reflection of the quality of domestic.

 

[Hitman]

Human beings will remain human beings, anyone in life can lose confidence and have negative self belief. Even someone as invincible as Kohli had a torturous 2014 England tour. Having a psychologist is better than not having one.

I definitely agree. If having a team psychologist can benefit the players, then why not go for it?

 

[Fahdi]

A proper psychologist who is allowed to do his work and has the right tools at his disposal can do some good work.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

I know someone who is a psychiatrist (not psychologist)and a cricket fanatic who has advocated this for years...and was in touch with PCB for 2 years about it. That person is in touch with them again...lets wait and see.

 

[Rana]

Why is this a 21st century induction for the PCB? We needed a sports Psychologist years ago

 

[Sherlock]

I'm all for this, considering I've been wondering why we didn't have one since the we won the T20 WC in 2009**.

** I may be wrong and we might have hired one after that too.

 

[MMHS]

Does it really work? I mean, a psychologist can help a player if he is groomed to take his input. I know, Liverpool takes help from one of the best in world (he was the team psychologist of that wonderful British cycling team for 2012 Olympic), but pro footballers in those leagues are developed from teen age in that environment of maditation & mental conditioning.

May be it’ll work, at least hope so; but to my knowledge Javed didn’t need one and he had liquid nitrogen in his vein under pressure. I still would like to belive that for a cricketer (batsman), best mental medicin is around 25, 4 day & 1 day games against best competitors of which at least half of those games end like the latest Abu Dhabi Test or last Asia Cup Final.

 

[warcry]

hiring a sports psychologist wont solve the issues.

change selection criteria. instead of selecting batsmen based on how pretty the cover drive is,
select batsmen on merit.
drop the mental midgets.
Pakistan A was able to chase 300+ against England lions. give some of then and Fawad Alam a chance.
Drop the undroppables: Shafiq+Babar+Haris+Hafeez+Imam and pick a real test team.

 

[reversehook]

Saj might need to hire one for all the wrist slitters on here after Harry's 147 marathon...

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Does it really work? I mean, a psychologist can help a player if he is groomed to take his input. I know, Liverpool takes help from one of the best in world (he was the team psychologist of that wonderful British cycling team for 2012 Olympic), but pro footballers in those leagues are developed from teen age in that environment of maditation & mental conditioning.

May be it’ll work, at least hope so; but to my knowledge Javed didn’t need one and he had liquid nitrogen in his vein under pressure. I still would like to belive that for a cricketer (batsman), best mental medicin is around 25, 4 day & 1 day games against best competitors of which at least half of those games end like the latest Abu Dhabi Test or last Asia Cup Final.

Psychiatrist not psychologist. Steve Peters. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and the advantage is they can understand a situation better taking into account experience of mental illness and social issues too...

Pakistan need one ASAP

 

[MMHS]

Psychiatrist not psychologist. Steve Peters. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and the advantage is they can understand a situation better taking into account experience of mental illness and social issues too...

Pakistan need one ASAP

Not much idea.

Can you share some of your experience in this regard with real life examples? Say, you are in such an interview and PP has given you 3 real life examples, where I think the problem is mental -

1. Mo Amir: he is still the best pacers for PAK. He has skills, experience and he knows how to use the new ball. Referring to his working out of a batsman of Sharma’s calibre, I am sure bowling intelligence isn’t an issue either. Still, he exhibits extreme ups & downs for a bowler of his calibre and often goes missing; mentally not in the game - what will you do on this?

2. Azhar Ali - after 10 years and 5000+ Test runs, he is definitely one great of the game for PAK and he can bat, no doubt. But, he has a tendency to shell himself often and not to go for shots even on loose balls - he limits himself to almost deprivation. Last Test, he was planning to take 15 single of 15 overs with last man averaging 3.5 - that’s insanity. Now, this can’t be his shot making inability only (he is limited, even Shoaib Akhtar once blew 43 against Poms on a tricky wicket), rather he has a mental block against trying to bat aggressively. What will you do with him?

3. MoHa - I have seen him lot and made lots of fun of him. But, every criticism intact, I don’t see any technical flaw in guy’s catching at least - he keeps his head still, nice cup, doesn’t snatch to ball either ..,.. still guy drops probably 50% of regulation catches and this can’t be technical issues after like 85 years in PAK colours & 10-12 pro coaches working on him. What is his issue?

 

[Suleiman]

They all need a session with Jordan Peterson and then our batsmen will be teaching opposing bowlers what is the meaning of life.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

They all need a session with Jordan Peterson and then our batsmen will be teaching opposing bowlers what is the meaning of life.

Genuinely chuckled at this - Good one!