Pakistani players lack mental strength and confidence

[AdamM97]

I remember the days where Pakistani players used to be mentally tough and confident. Nowadays, Pakistani players look like they’re not coming out to win matches. It seems like they just want to lose the match with dignity and even then fail to put up a decent fight.

On top of that, our captain looks like he needs some counseling for depression. Not trying to get personal but his post-match interview was embarassing, he looked like he was on the verge of crying. It’s very embarassing and shows that a captain is not tough.

Pakistani players need to get tougher and ready to take on any team otherwise teams will bully us like the West Indies did yesterday.

 

[shane]

I cannot recall a time when I would have said a Pakistani team was mentally tough. Maybe that was before my time. But the current team is the weakest I have ever seen.

 

[Chokli]

Why is it so hard to accept that Pakistan are borderline minnows?

If you put Pakistans performance in the last 10 years on a graph, you'll be amazed at the downward trajectory.

 

[geraltofrivia]

Why is it so hard to accept that Pakistan are borderline minnows?

If you put Pakistans performance in the last 10 years on a graph, you'll be amazed at the downward trajectory.

what will they be left with

 

[Saj]

And yet PCB has roped in a UK-based sports psychologist Taimoor Khan for the World Cup.

 

[AdamM97]

Why is it so hard to accept that Pakistan are borderline minnows?

If you put Pakistans performance in the last 10 years on a graph, you'll be amazed at the downward trajectory.

I agree but that’s not the point. Even teams like Afghanistan come out to play and give their 100%, doesn’t matter whether or not the team you’re facing is stronger or weaker. Our players look like they’re afraid of facing teams and that’s the thing that really irritates me. At least show that you arrive at the big stage to do something.

 

[JattMaula]

And yet PCB has roped in a UK-based sports psychologist Taimoor Khan for the World Cup.

Just for WC? Not well before it?

 

[Ronaldo7]

Why is it so hard to accept that Pakistan are borderline minnows?

If you put Pakistans performance in the last 10 years on a graph, you'll be amazed at the downward trajectory.

Coz they're not minnows yet. They lost against sa in sa 2-1. Minnows don't do that.

 

[Chokli]

Coz they're not minnows yet. They lost against sa in sa 2-1. Minnows don't do that.

I am speaking in terms of ODIs not T20s.

 

[shane]

The kind of mental weakness we are talking about is in the blood. In the culture. A few sessions with a "sports psychologist" is not going to make an ounce of difference.

 

[Ronaldo7]

I am speaking in terms of ODIs not T20s.

I was meant to write 3-2 loss not 2-1.
My apologies.

 

[Ronaldo7]

The supposed mentally tough lad Imam up haq was looking so scared yesterday. The guy was shaking while he was batting. The occasion really got to him.

 

[Saj]

Just for WC? Not well before it?

Before it too.

He was there for the series against England.

 

[Chokli]

I was meant to write 3-2 loss not 2-1.
My apologies.

No need to apologise, we're pals.

Should have won that series tbh

 

[Chokli]

The supposed mentally tough lad Imam up haq was looking so scared yesterday. The guy was shaking while he was batting. The occasion really got to him.

So were the experienced campaigners.

At least with Imam you could give him some leeway.

 

[Ronaldo7]

No need to apologise, we're pals.

Should have won that series tbh

True. After the 2015 win of ban over us I stopped considering Them as minnows too.
A team is no longer a minnow when people stop referring to their wins as upsets. That's the first sign.

 

[Afhan Ali]

We are simply not good enough accept it.

 

[AdamM97]

The kind of mental weakness we are talking about is in the blood. In the culture. A few sessions with a "sports psychologist" is not going to make an ounce of difference.

A lot of it has to do with how desis are raised. We’re raised to believe that being passive is better than standing up for yourself and demanding respect.

However, India and Pakistan share the same culture, a lot of their players are Punjabis and so is the majority of our team, but India still look more confident on the pitch. Surely there are other factors that play a role as well?

 

[AdamM97]

A lot of it has to do with how desis are raised. We’re raised to believe that being passive is better than standing up for yourself and demanding respect.

However, India and Pakistan share the same culture, a lot of their players are Punjabis and so is the majority of our team, but India still look more confident on the pitch. Surely there are other factors that play a role as well?

The roles used to be reversed back in the days if i remember it correctly. (I was a kid so maybe i’m wrong)

 

[Chokli]

The roles used to be reversed back in the days if i remember it correctly. (I was a kid so maybe i’m wrong)

elaborate?

 

[Misia]

Before it too.

He was there for the series against England.

Pcb should be asking for full refund

 

[dhump]

They are not a good team with limited talent and no sporting culture to groom better players in the country. These players are physically and mentally unfit, and modern day sports are not only won on talent; you need hard work and well built up from early childhood.

 

[dhump]

Pcb should be asking for full refund

He is a doctor, not a magician.

 

[Pete Rose]

They are. And it’s not a recent issue. It’s been there since the 99 World Cup final

 

[Markhor]

Isn't this what the PSL was meant to help us with ?

After the CT17 win, we heard the argument this was an aggressive, confident young team shaped by PSL experience.

However as time goes on, these PSL superstars have been totally exposed at international level.

 

[Chokli]

Isn't this what the PSL was meant to help us with ?

After the CT17 win, we heard the argument this was an aggressive, confident young team shaped by PSL experience.

However as time goes on, these PSL superstars have been totally exposed at international level.

"Championship Mindset" arm bands

 

[Markhor]

"Championship Mindset" arm bands

Yeah and that bubble burst as quickly as a plate of Beef Qorma biriyani in front of the skipper.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Isn't this what the PSL was meant to help us with ?

After the CT17 win, we heard the argument this was an aggressive, confident young team shaped by PSL experience.

However as time goes on, these PSL superstars have been totally exposed at international level.

I think the PSL will help, but only for T20 format. It's not perfect while it's being played in Dubai, but it's better than nothing. I think lack of home fixtures has led to a weaker itinerary which means they play even less cricket against the top teams and eventually it comes home to roost.

In the old days when Pakistan cricket was flying high, the best players were playing county cricket so even if the domestic game was poor, they were getting exposure to top competition.

 

[Chokli]

In the old days when Pakistan cricket was flying high, the best players were playing county cricket so even if the domestic game was poor, they were getting exposure to top competition.

Why aren't they playing country cricket now?

I think that was one of the reasons we had world class players back then.

 

[Energy]

Need a few bad boys in the team who can give it back without fear. Too many timid, dhyaari lagao kam mukaao players.

 

[Markhor]

Why aren't they playing country cricket now?

I think that was one of the reasons we had world class players back then.

The counties have limited the number of overseas players from two to one.

I think that's a bad move because young county batsmen would benefit greatly from facing the too overseas players.

 

[shane]

The counties have limited the number of overseas players from two to one.

I think that's a bad move because young county batsmen would benefit greatly from facing the too overseas players.

The counties are quite strong these days, especially in limited overs cricket. So even if they were allowing 2 overseas players, I am not sure any of the Pakistanis would be good enough to be selected. Maybe teams like Warwickshire, Surrey etc would select one or two purely to bring in the asian crowds.

 

[AdamM97]

elaborate?

I dunno but Pakistani cricketers in general looked much tougher and confident back in the days compared to the Indians. I’m judging based on the body language.

 

[AdamM97]

The counties are quite strong these days, especially in limited overs cricket. So even if they were allowing 2 overseas players, I am not sure any of the Pakistanis would be good enough to be selected. Maybe teams like Warwickshire, Surrey etc would select one or two purely to bring in the asian crowds.

Babar Azam will play for Somerset. Signed a contract last month. There is a Pakistani bowler(don’t remember his name) and he plays county as well.

 

[emranabbas]

This will continue as long as players play for their averages.

We need to break this trend of gloryfying players 50's and 100's made in losing causes.

 

[The Viper]

Fakhar displayed mental strength during CT or was it just the fact that teams did not know about his weaknesses at that point?

 

[Chokli]

I dunno but Pakistani cricketers in general looked much tougher and confident back in the days compared to the Indians. I’m judging based on the body language.

Oh yes definitely.

This generation wasn't raised properly.

 

[ManFan]

You only get confidence and mental strength by winning games and playing in high-stakes matches.

These guys come from a lackluster domestic scene where the matches are treated like a Sunday park game.

It’s not really their fault they were brought up in a terrible system.

 

[Pete Rose]

Fakhar displayed mental strength during CT or was it just the fact that teams did not know about his weaknesses at that point?

Mental strength is not a finite skill. It can increase or decrease. Fakhar did well in CT and on this tour ue has been decent for the most part. But yeah collectively, Pakistan’s last 20 years of cricket are defined by inspiration and not so much method. So that’s why it’s important for Pakistan to get on a roll. Our players are not able to focus on anything other than their last game. So if they have a good game, chances are they will the next one as well.
Most disappointing against West Indies were babar, haris, hafeez and Imam. First one threw it away while the other three were genuinely scared

 

[Pete Rose]

This will continue as long as players play for their averages.

We need to break this trend of gloryfying players 50's and 100's made in losing causes.

This is not really Pakistan have been losing big games and to big teams for 20 years.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

And yet PCB has roped in a UK-based sports psychologist Taimoor Khan for the World Cup.

Azhar Mahmood’s friend. The lack of meritocracy is questionable.

They need a psychiatrist who can treat anxiety and depression and have a rounded view of the situation.

Getting in a buddy of the bowling coach who has taken the team backwards, is not the answer.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Pakistan team lost the eye of the tiger.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan doesn't depend on mental strength. They have always been mentally fragile. How many times they have lost matches from winning position. All individual maverick performance. Be it is inzamam's two innings against NZ in 1992 world cup or Akram's cameo and double wicket in 1992 final or more recently Amir's short burst. One common thing though Pakistan was always a bowling force. This is the first time i don't see them as a bowling force. This is where they have let themselves down. Probably too much preference to "all rounders" (Hafeez, Malik, Imad, Faheem) instead of specialists? Unless they become a bowling force again they will continue showing inconsistency.

 

[Stewie]

A lot of you are probably younger and don’t know this but Pakistan at a point in the 80s to early 90s were known for mental toughness and pulling victories from jaws of defeat, completing some seemingly impossible run chases are n the back of people like Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, etc.
so those of you who are somehow blaming us as a nation, I am sorry but your comments are very weak and betray some sort of inferiority complex.

We are unpredictable and prone to collapses, but we also are unstoppable when on song.

The problem, more recently, has something to do with the sudden, unfair, and politically motivated selection and dismissal of players, I suspect. The way our system mostly works, a player has no guarantee whether he will be playing another game, so they play under immense pressure to hold their spots. With bowlers, you can come back after one bad delivery or over, with batsmen it’s one bad shot or good ball and our chance is gone. So they are always playing nervously. Unfortunately, this is how it is. Several careers were cut short or never really took off due to our unfair and irrational selections.

Think about Fawad Alam. Scored century is last test inning but was dropped from test team on the basis of poor T20/ODI Scores. Abid Ali played so well but then Asif scores two fifties and he is out and he may never get another game.. these are just a few examples. There is no consistency and grooming process for our players.. nobody at the top with eye for talent who decides how to shape careers or make better player out of them. That’s why there is not much improvement for these players from under 19 playing days once they graduate to senior level compared to other nations.

 

[Savak]

Racing in every ball even though you are getting tonked around i.e. Shinwari is a sign of mental strength. These are the kind of players Imran loved. Even Imran in an interview mentioned that while Wasim was a superior bowler, he would get discouraged under pressure but Waqar would always race in and forget about the previous delivery.

 

[Stewie]

Racing in every ball even though you are getting tonked around i.e. Shinwari is a sign of mental strength. These are the kind of players Imran loved. Even Imran in an interview mentioned that while Wasim was a superior bowler, he would get discouraged under pressure but Waqar would always race in and forget about the previous delivery.

+1.. gotta love that guys big heart!

 

[Captain caveman]

The only mentally tough pakistani players i have seen are imran khan, javed miandad, inzi and younis( possibly misbah). Thats 5 players in the past 40 odd years!

 

[saeedhk]

That has been the case for the last decade. Very timid, mentally-weak players.

 

[yasir]

This is such a ** argument, Pakistan team does not have ability, talent is below par, skill set is even poor.... This mental weakness bull **** is fan fiction

 

[Mercurial]

The kind of mental weakness we are talking about is in the blood. In the culture. A few sessions with a "sports psychologist" is not going to make an ounce of difference.

Spot on.

 

[Captain caveman]

This is such a ** argument, Pakistan team does not have ability, talent is below par, skill set is even poor.... This mental weakness bull **** is fan fiction

So what you are saying is that this WI team was so vastly superior to us, that they biew us away in 36 overs? We are just inferior in our skill set and nothing to do with mental weakness?

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan team has always needed a very good bowling lineup to win , no matchwinning bowlers in the side at the moment is hurting us and has brought us to minnows level.

 

[Captain caveman]

Pakistan team has always needed a very good bowling lineup to win , no matchwinning bowlers in the side at the moment is hurting us and has brought us to minnows level.

Oh, it was the bowlers fault we only scored 105 runs on a average pitch which offered a little bounce. Not even a line up of imran, wasim, waqar and akhtar in their prime could have won us that game.

 

[yasir]

So what you are saying is that this WI team was so vastly superior to us, that they biew us away in 36 overs? We are just inferior in our skill set and nothing to do with mental weakness?

Pakistan has lost 10-0 against AUS and ENG, all one sided, like minnows. We cannot compete against them in bowling or batting. What it has to do with mental issues??

CT was fluke, how long we will live in delusion ??

This short pitch issue is not new, we have not won a single test in AUS in this century. 10/12 years in SA, we were blown away by a rookie who just bowls short length in SA, this winter. Those are technical issues, nothing to do with mental strength or other crap. You have to recognize the problem first. This side discussion of mental strength, team politics and unity non sense is just crap focus on technical and real issues first...

Pakistani fan base and media’s favorite topic is gossip, never go to uncomfortable zone, because society don’t want to talk about real issues, we have same problem in political and social culture... Focus is always on meaningless **

 

[JibranAnsari]

Oh, it was the bowlers fault we only scored 105 runs on a average pitch which offered a little bounce. Not even a line up of imran, wasim, waqar and akhtar in their prime could have won us that game.

its only one match , we have lost 11 in a row now.

our bowlers struggles big time against australia in uae and then against england. Our batting has always been weak in every era , it was always the bowlers who won us matches.

 

[redmaverik84]

My 2 cents-> Reading comments here comparing the Indian and Pakistani mindset and psychology and how there is a role reversal. Intend to agree with this wholeheartedly. Indians were very slow and painful to watch when they first played ODI(Sunny G and his 36n.o at the 75WC) while Pakistan were out running like Mavericks. This was also in direct correlation with the economy of that times. While Pakistan had a better GDP and had moved to economic liberalization and opened their world to foreign investment and vice versa Indians were very conservative and had a socialist mindset which showed in how all fields of life. Pakistan had a gifted cricket, hockey, squash, boxing teams while India apart from hockey in the earlier era were always second best. But in the last 20 years tide has turned, there has been domestic turmoil in Pakistan and for some reason they seem to be going back to being conservative with thoughts, ideology and way of life and also due to unfortunate circumstances like the attack on cricketers, sports and the economy has taken a back seat. You don't see any good sportsmen coming out who can compete internationally. Lack of international competitions has also robbed the confidence and degraded the ability of the sportsmen while the lack of funds and a faltering economy means investment in sports has taken a back seat. Hopefully someday it's gonna be fixed and both countries will compete against each...

 

[Ami]

Come off it..dont you guys know how it all works with Pak cricket team?

Its either Bollywood or Bust!

It could be another 8 losses in a row or may be scraping it again to semis?

These kind of situations are gonna keep turning up unless PCB completely evolves like BCCI did.

Until then enjoy the ride...and (a tad early) Eid Mubarak!

 

[Ami]

My 2 cents-> Reading comments here comparing the Indian and Pakistani mindset and psychology and how there is a role reversal. Intend to agree with this wholeheartedly. Indians were very slow and painful to watch when they first played ODI(Sunny G and his 36n.o at the 75WC) while Pakistan were out running like Mavericks. This was also in direct correlation with the economy of that times. While Pakistan had a better GDP and had moved to economic liberalization and opened their world to foreign investment and vice versa Indians were very conservative and had a socialist mindset which showed in how all fields of life. Pakistan had a gifted cricket, hockey, squash, boxing teams while India apart from hockey in the earlier era were always second best. But in the last 20 years tide has turned, there has been domestic turmoil in Pakistan and for some reason they seem to be going back to being conservative with thoughts, ideology and way of life and also due to unfortunate circumstances like the attack on cricketers, sports and the economy has taken a back seat. You don't see any good sportsmen coming out who can compete internationally. Lack of international competitions has also robbed the confidence and degraded the ability of the sportsmen while the lack of funds and a faltering economy means investment in sports has taken a back seat. Hopefully someday it's gonna be fixed and both countries will compete against each...

Agree with your thought process!

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

My 2 cents-> Reading comments here comparing the Indian and Pakistani mindset and psychology and how there is a role reversal. Intend to agree with this wholeheartedly. Indians were very slow and painful to watch when they first played ODI(Sunny G and his 36n.o at the 75WC) while Pakistan were out running like Mavericks. This was also in direct correlation with the economy of that times. While Pakistan had a better GDP and had moved to economic liberalization and opened their world to foreign investment and vice versa Indians were very conservative and had a socialist mindset which showed in how all fields of life. Pakistan had a gifted cricket, hockey, squash, boxing teams while India apart from hockey in the earlier era were always second best. But in the last 20 years tide has turned, there has been domestic turmoil in Pakistan and for some reason they seem to be going back to being conservative with thoughts, ideology and way of life and also due to unfortunate circumstances like the attack on cricketers, sports and the economy has taken a back seat. You don't see any good sportsmen coming out who can compete internationally. Lack of international competitions has also robbed the confidence and degraded the ability of the sportsmen while the lack of funds and a faltering economy means investment in sports has taken a back seat. Hopefully someday it's gonna be fixed and both countries will compete against each...

Very good post. Also Pakistan cricket world has shrunk since the WOT and that has led to less exposure to top quality competition. There was a time when British football clubs were banned from Europe following the deaths caused by hooliganism, and that coincided with Britain's worst period of failure in international tournaments following their return.

IPL has led to Indian players toughening up a lot, and say what you like about T20 cricket, being in an arena where you are exposed to top quality players and conditions has to be good for development.

 

[Saj]

I look at our modern-day cricketers and think they are in it to make a quick buck, cram in as much cricket as possible and move on.

It seems like a job to them and not a career.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Racing in every ball even though you are getting tonked around i.e. Shinwari is a sign of mental strength. These are the kind of players Imran loved. Even Imran in an interview mentioned that while Wasim was a superior bowler, he would get discouraged under pressure but Waqar would always race in and forget about the previous delivery.

That was early in his career. Wasim toughened up later on. That spell image bowled in the World cup final shows what a clutch player he had become by then.

 

[Stewie]

Anybody remember our wickie saleem yousaf? The late wasim raja? Majid khan? Saeed Anwar? Amir Sohail? Moin khan, rashid Latif, sarfaraz nawaz?

I just rattled out a few names from memory who you only have to look how they played their cricket. Never looked anything like timid.. at all!

You guys are just peddling Ill conceived notions about our history as a cricketing nation. The current crop may not play a bold flavor but we have been anything but timid..

 

[battler]

After watching Bangladesh batting against SA and Afghanistan batting against Aus I'm convinced that Pak batsmen are the most mentally weak in the world. Absolutely zero character and confidence in one's abilities. It's Bangladesh's first game as well but look how their batting.

 

[shaz619]

They usually need a kick up the behind to get going, am hoping we turn around our fortunes with a morale boosting win over England

 

[GreenKhan]

Problem is we believe in experience and the “seniors “ to guide us . Problem is the two seniors Malik and Hafeez are mentally weak themselves.

If we had Misbah for example he most likely would have guided Pakistan to a score which would have given them s fighting chance to defend. I don’t really see a “ man of crisis “ in this team .

 

[Stewie]

Problem is we believe in experience and the “seniors “ to guide us . Problem is the two seniors Malik and Hafeez are mentally weak themselves.

If we had Misbah for example he most likely would have guided Pakistan to a score which would have given them s fighting chance to defend. I don’t really see a “ man of crisis “ in this team .

I agree with you. There was a very crucial time post Wasim era where we suddenly decided to entertain the ideas of persisting with mediocrity and chose so called accumulators as our top order. Some players that debuted or continued their careers that time were farhat, hamid, Hafeez, malik, etc.

I think our slow descent into spineless batting started there. Now most of these TTFs never had long careers but Hafeez and malik have managed to survive. And their records speak for themselves.

I think their flaws were hidden when we had strong middle order of inzi, Misbah, yousaf, younis, etc
But these “seniors” took over from some of the legends and now that they are the ones to look up to, well you can see the end result.

A somewhat similar story to our test match batting where Azhar and shafiq are the senior year players now.
Just think about the low standards and mediocrity our upcoming players have to look up to.

I still prefer players like Fakhar, Afridi, Imran Nazir etc.. regardless of their flaws and inconsistencies, one thing they are or were not were timid and cowardly.. they would always look to take on the opposition.

 

[AdamM97]

”He (Sarfraz Ahmad) can be full of self-doubt. He can call up his idol Moin Khan from last World Cup and fret, “Bhai, Waqar Younis (coach) is asking me to open the batting tomorrow against South Africa. You know I’m not used to batting there. If I fail, I will be out of the Pakistan team forever. That’s what they want. Main kya karoon?”

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/s...arfraz-and-co-on-a-wing-and-a-prayer-5759861/

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Anybody remember our wickie saleem yousaf? The late wasim raja? Majid khan? Saeed Anwar? Amir Sohail? Moin khan, rashid Latif, sarfaraz nawaz?

I just rattled out a few names from memory who you only have to look how they played their cricket. Never looked anything like timid.. at all!

You guys are just peddling Ill conceived notions about our history as a cricketing nation. The current crop may not play a bold flavor but we have been anything but timid..

Saleem Yousuf wasn't even a rated keeper, Imran Khan picked him because he considered him a bit of a fighter. Imran had a policy in fact of picking players on character rather than ability even if he didn't like them personally. There again he was an inspirational leader so he probably would have got much more out of this current bunch as well. Sarfraz doesn't command respect.

 

[Technics 1210]

I have said it before, I will say it again - Pakistan does not lack talent, Pakistan lacks a consistent mindset.

 

[Mamoon]

We are simply not good enough. It is just not about coincidence and mental strength - our players are short on skill and talent as well.

We can’t admit it because it hurts our fragile egos.

 

[Jazx]

Pakistani players mental weakness is one of the issues but the root cause is the lack of skills. I am following cricket since 92 and apart from 3 bowlers I haven't seen any descent new ball bowler from Pakistan. Those 3 bowlers were wasim, aaqib and asif. Others were just too dependent on reverse swing with the old ball and were rubbish with new ball. And the 2 new ball rule have just declined Pakistani bowling now. And this lack of new ball bowlers have also made an impact on Pakistani batsman as in domestics also they have to face these bowlers who just balls flat with the new ball. So the batsmans are not used to quality new ball bowling and whenever there is slight movement with new ball they give away 4-5 wickets within first 10overs.