Ahead of India-Pakistan Super 4 clash, ex-PCB chief trolls team: ‘No psychiatrist can teach them

Najam Sethi on Pakistan Cricket Team

Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi criticised the board’s approach following Karim’s statement. He explained that since psychologists are not common in Pakistan’s sporting culture, many players may not be willing to accept them.

“During my tenure, I also tried to bring in a psychiatrist. But players here usually don’t agree to such things, because in our society therapy is often misunderstood. Visiting a psychiatrist is seen as a weakness or even as madness, which creates stigma,” Sethi said in an interview with Samaa TV.

He further pointed out that mental health is a much wider subject but is unfortunately narrowed down in Pakistan to the idea of whether someone is ‘crazy or not’. He also highlighted the language barrier: “Most of these specialists are trained abroad and speak in English, while our players are more comfortable in Urdu or Pashto.”

According to Sethi, another challenge lies in the diverse social and educational backgrounds of the cricketers. “Their class differences, lack of formal education, and varied upbringings make it harder. A psychiatrist cannot transform them overnight,” he remarked.