Pakistan back on couch ahead of Champions Trophy

KARACHI,  (Reuters) – Pakistan will again seek the  help of a sports psychologist to inspire them to repeat their  Twenty20 World Cup success in the ICC Champions Trophy in South  Africa.

Pakistani players had several counselling sessions with  sports psychologist Maqbool Bari before heading to England  where they upset a string of more-fancied sides to clinch the  T20 World Cup in May.

The team faltered badly, however, immediately after during  their recent tour to Sri Lanka where they lost both the Test  and one-day series.

“There is no doubt that the sessions with the psychologist  helped improve the self belief and focus of the players before  the T20 World Cup,” Pakistan captain Younis Khan told Reuters  in an interview.

“Those sessions were one of the reasons for us showing  great fighting spirit to win the T20 World Cup.”

Younis said he had asked the Pakistan cricket board to  arrange more time with a psychologist during a short  conditioning camp to be arranged for the Champions Trophy in  mid-September.

“We will have two proper counseling sessions because there  is a problem with us that we tend to suffer from a mental block  when it comes to handling pressure or finishing off matches,”  he said.

The Pakistan board has also appointed former  captain and batting great, Javed Miandad as batting consultant  for the Champions Trophy.

Younis said that former captains, Waqar Younis and Saeed  Anwar would also visit the conditioning camp to work with the  players.

“I think our players can gain a lot by seeking advice from  these former greats and a psychologist. We need these things to  do well in the Champions trophy which is a mega event.”