Pakistani national cricket team's horrible performance at the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy is uncharacteristic for a side widely regarded by experts as one of the most talented in the world. The losses have unleashed a torrent of anger in Pakistan with demands for heads at PCB to roll yet again.
For some in Pakistan, the understandable anger has turned into total insanity. For example, former Pakistani cricketer Aamer Suhail has laid the entire blame at the feet of Imran Khan who led Pakistan to its sole victory in ICC World Cup in 1992.
It's unfortunate that Pakistan's losses at international cricket competitions do not force a sober assessment of the team's strengths and weaknesses. Rather, the so-called "experts" resort to self-serving analyses.
In my view, a dispassionate review of the team's record would bring out the following:
1. Pakistan's bowling attack is among the most potent in the world and it should be maintained and enhanced.
2. Pakistan's batting is among the weakest in the world and it needs serious improvement.
3. Pakistani players, particularly its batting line-up, collapse under pressure.
The best way to move forward is to do the following:
1. Hire a world-class batting coach who has a track record as a super batsman but also knows how to coach a young side. This search for such a coach needs to be world-wide and selection done in a professional manner.
2. Bring on board a world-renowned sports psychologist to increase mental toughness and improve the overall temperament and tenacity of the players to perform well under pressure. The anger for the loss should not be directed against individual players. Instead, the passion should be channelized to improve the effectiveness of the team as a cohesive unit.
Haq's Musings: Pak Cricket Needs World Class Batting Coach and Top Psychologist
For some in Pakistan, the understandable anger has turned into total insanity. For example, former Pakistani cricketer Aamer Suhail has laid the entire blame at the feet of Imran Khan who led Pakistan to its sole victory in ICC World Cup in 1992.
It's unfortunate that Pakistan's losses at international cricket competitions do not force a sober assessment of the team's strengths and weaknesses. Rather, the so-called "experts" resort to self-serving analyses.
In my view, a dispassionate review of the team's record would bring out the following:
1. Pakistan's bowling attack is among the most potent in the world and it should be maintained and enhanced.
2. Pakistan's batting is among the weakest in the world and it needs serious improvement.
3. Pakistani players, particularly its batting line-up, collapse under pressure.
The best way to move forward is to do the following:
1. Hire a world-class batting coach who has a track record as a super batsman but also knows how to coach a young side. This search for such a coach needs to be world-wide and selection done in a professional manner.
2. Bring on board a world-renowned sports psychologist to increase mental toughness and improve the overall temperament and tenacity of the players to perform well under pressure. The anger for the loss should not be directed against individual players. Instead, the passion should be channelized to improve the effectiveness of the team as a cohesive unit.
Haq's Musings: Pak Cricket Needs World Class Batting Coach and Top Psychologist