Monday, May 25, 2009
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam is hoping that a series of one-to-one sessions with a sports psychologist will help his charges attain the sort of mental toughness that is needed to win major events like next month's World Twenty20 Championship in England.
Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 but fell to India in the title clash.
This time, Intikhab is hopeful that a series of preparatory measures taken by Pakistan will help them go all the way in the June 5-21 spectacle to staged in London and Nottingham.
One of the new steps taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was to rope in a seasoned psychologist to help the England-bound players cope up with pressure and give their best in the Twenty20 tournament.
The PCB hired Maqbool Bari, a well-known psychologist, for a series of sessions with the players on the sidelines of three practice games in Lahore last week.
"One of our primary tasks is to make the players mentally tough," Intikhab told 'The News' in an interview. "Mental toughness is one of the key elements needed to win a major title and we believe that the players can improve in that area with help from steps like having a psychologist around for a while," he added.
Babri spent two hours with each of the cricketers. He carried out one-to-one sessions with the players separately.
Intikhab is confident that when the Pakistani squad will leave for England on May 30, it will be fully ready for the tough challenge.
"Our aim is to win the title and England and thankfully our preparations are on the right track," he stressed.
Pakistan warmed up for the World Twenty20 by comprehensively beating Australia in a one-off Twenty20 International in Dubai on May. Later, the national cricketers attended a conditioning camp in Bhurban and then played a series of practice games in Lahore. The players will now compete in the RBS National Twenty20 Cup getting underway in Lahore from Monday (today). The Pakistan team players will only compete in matches on the first three days of the five-day contest.
"We have decided to give the boys a two-day rest because its also equally important to rest and rejuvenate," said Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain.
"We are preparing for a major event and want our boys to be in peak physical and mental condition for the England assignment," he concluded.
Pakistan will play a couple of practice games in their buildup for the World Twenty20. They will meet South Africa at Trent Bridge (Nottingham) on June 1 and will then feature in an eagerly-awaited clash with old rivals India at The Oval on June 3. Bracketed with England and minnows Netherlands in Group B of the event, Pakistan will open their title campaign with a match against the hosts on July 7 at The Oval.
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam is hoping that a series of one-to-one sessions with a sports psychologist will help his charges attain the sort of mental toughness that is needed to win major events like next month's World Twenty20 Championship in England.
Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 but fell to India in the title clash.
This time, Intikhab is hopeful that a series of preparatory measures taken by Pakistan will help them go all the way in the June 5-21 spectacle to staged in London and Nottingham.
One of the new steps taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was to rope in a seasoned psychologist to help the England-bound players cope up with pressure and give their best in the Twenty20 tournament.
The PCB hired Maqbool Bari, a well-known psychologist, for a series of sessions with the players on the sidelines of three practice games in Lahore last week.
"One of our primary tasks is to make the players mentally tough," Intikhab told 'The News' in an interview. "Mental toughness is one of the key elements needed to win a major title and we believe that the players can improve in that area with help from steps like having a psychologist around for a while," he added.
Babri spent two hours with each of the cricketers. He carried out one-to-one sessions with the players separately.
Intikhab is confident that when the Pakistani squad will leave for England on May 30, it will be fully ready for the tough challenge.
"Our aim is to win the title and England and thankfully our preparations are on the right track," he stressed.
Pakistan warmed up for the World Twenty20 by comprehensively beating Australia in a one-off Twenty20 International in Dubai on May. Later, the national cricketers attended a conditioning camp in Bhurban and then played a series of practice games in Lahore. The players will now compete in the RBS National Twenty20 Cup getting underway in Lahore from Monday (today). The Pakistan team players will only compete in matches on the first three days of the five-day contest.
"We have decided to give the boys a two-day rest because its also equally important to rest and rejuvenate," said Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain.
"We are preparing for a major event and want our boys to be in peak physical and mental condition for the England assignment," he concluded.
Pakistan will play a couple of practice games in their buildup for the World Twenty20. They will meet South Africa at Trent Bridge (Nottingham) on June 1 and will then feature in an eagerly-awaited clash with old rivals India at The Oval on June 3. Bracketed with England and minnows Netherlands in Group B of the event, Pakistan will open their title campaign with a match against the hosts on July 7 at The Oval.
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