Cllr Tariq Dar MBE
I’ve been following cricket for over 50 years, and in my opinion, one of our biggest problems in recent times, certainly over the past 10 to 15 years, has been inexperienced management at the top.
However, I also feel that the players themselves are not psychologically or mentally strong enough. They seem to carry fear and pressure in their minds when they are actually out in the middle. They may have all the skills and a wide selection of shots, but when the moment comes during a match, they often fail to make the right decisions or execute those skills properly, whether it is batting or fielding.
Sometimes I feel they need proper mental training and psychological support more than another coach in the dressing room. We already have numerous specialist coaches for batting, bowling and fielding, yet we continue to see experienced players making poor decisions under pressure.
For example, players like Babar Azam have sometimes attempted to hook balls that were simply not there to be hooked and got themselves out. Similarly, Saud Shakeel has also played inappropriate shots in situations where better judgment was required.
This is why I believe the real issue is not always a lack of cricketing education or technical ability. The players clearly have the talent and skills. What they seem to need is stronger mental preparation, better psychological education, and the ability to remain calm and make sensible decisions under pressure.
