Pakistan players ko Psychiatrist bhi kuch nahi seekha sakta: PCB chief’s brutal reality check

As India and Pakistan prepare for their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash in Dubai on September 21, the spotlight has not only been on cricket but also on Pakistan’s off-field drama. Apart from their on-field struggles, Pakistan had already made enough drama of India’s “no-handshake” drama.

And now news has emerged that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed a psychologist to help the national players cope with stress, maintain focus, and stay calm under pressure ahead of the Super Four games in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

Pakistan appoints a Psychologist amid Asia Cup 2025 drama ahead of India clash

This sudden appointment in the middle of the tournament has stunned everyone and raised questions about the mental strength of the Pakistan side.

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Former PCB chief Najam Sethi revealed that he had once suggested a similar move during his tenure, but the players had strongly voiced against the idea.

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Sethi noted that therapy is often misunderstood in the region, where consulting a psychiatrist is seen as a sign of weakness or even madness, which creates social stigma.

Najam Sethi said on Samaa TV, “I tried for it [having a psychiatrist] during my tenure. But players here don’t really accept such things, because in our culture therapy is often misunderstood. Going to a psychiatrist is considered a sign of weakness or even madness, which creates stigma. Mental health, however, is a broader concept. Unfortunately, here it is only reduced to: ‘Are you crazy or not?’”

Big: PCB has hired psychiatrists for Pak cricketers after humiliation at hands of India. It's not helping though coz 'illiterate' Pak cricketers can't understand English.

- Ex PCB Chief Najam Sethipic.twitter.com/abya4M9BLD

— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) September 21, 2025

'Psychiatrists can’t instantly fix Pakistan players'

Sethi also highlighted another major issue, and that is the communication gap. He mentioned that most mental health experts associated with cricket teams are foreign-qualified and communicate in English, while many players in the Pakistan squad are more comfortable in Urdu or Pashto.

The former PCB chairman also stressed that no psychiatrist can transform players overnight, especially when cultural barriers are so deep. Sethi further explained, “But the most interesting factor here is, many of these experts are foreign-qualified. They communicate in English, which isn’t the language of our boys. They are required to be told in Urdu or Pashto.”

He added, “Their backgrounds, their class, and the lack of proper education are other issues. Psychiatrist bhi raato raat unko kuch nahi seekha sakta (A psychiatrist can’t help them overnight).”

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Najam Sethi claims ICC is controlled by India amid Andy Pycroft row

Meanwhile, Sethi also reacted to Pakistan’s complaints against ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. The PCB accused Pycroft of favoring India, and Sethi openly claimed that the ICC is run by India, so the match referee’s removal is not going to happen.

Sethi signed off by saying, “As for Andy Pycroft, despite all the noise, Pakistan won’t be able to remove him now. Baat ye hai ki ICC India ke haath mein hai (The fact is simple: the ICC is in India’s hands), and that’s it.”

Notably, the ICC has already announced that Pycroft will be the match referee for the India-Pakistan Super Four clash on Sunday despite the “no-handshake” saga in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. He will officiate all the matches that will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.