As India and Pakistan prepare for their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Clash in Dubai on 21 September, Spotlight is not only on cricket but also on Pakistan’s off-field drama. Apart from its on-field struggles, Pakistan had already pretended enough of India’s “No-Handshek” drama.
And now the news has come out that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed national players a psychologist to help to tackle stress, maintain focus and to help remain calm under pressure from the Super Four Games in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan appoints a psychologist among Asia, India clash beyond 2025 drama
In the middle of the tournament, this sudden appointment shocked everyone and questioned the mental strength of Pakistan’s side.
Former PCB chief Najam Sethi revealed that he had once suggested a similar step during his tenure, but the players had strongly voiced the idea.
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Sethi said that therapy is often misunderstood in the field, where consulting a psychiatrist is seen as a sign of weakness or insanity, which creates social stigma.
Najam Sethi said on Sama TV, “I tried for it [having a psychiatrist] During my tenure. But the players here do not really accept such things, because our culture is often misunderstood in medicine. Going to a psychiatrist is considered a sign of weakness or madness, which makes stigma. Mental health, however, is a broad concept. Unfortunately, here it is only reduced: ‘Are you crazy or not?’ ,
Big: PCB has hired psychiatrists for Pakistani cricketers after insulting India. It is not helping, although coz ‘illiterate’ Pak cricketers cannot understand English.
– Former PCB chief Najam Sethipic.twitter.com/abya4M9BLD
– Pakistan Untold (@Pakistan_untold) September 21, 2025
‘Psychiatrist cannot fix Pakistan players immediately’
Sethi also highlighted another major issue, and this is the communication interval. He mentioned that most of the 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 president also insisted that no psychiatrist can change the players overnight, especially when cultural obstacles are so deep. Sethi further explained, “But here is the most interesting factor, many of these experts are foreigners. They communicate in English, which is not the language of our boys. They need to be told in Urdu or Pashto.”
He said, “His background, his class, and lack of proper education are other issues. Psychiatrist Bhi Rat Rat Anko Kuch Nahhi learned (a psychiatrist cannot help him overnight).”
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Najam Sethi claims that the ICC is controlled by India among Andy Pycroft Row
Meanwhile, Sethi also reacted to Pakistan’s complaints against ICC match referee Andy Picroft. The PCB accused Picroft of India’s favor, and Sethi openly claimed that the ICC is run by India, so the match is not going to be removing the referee.
Sethi signed, saying, “For Andy Picroft, despite all the noise, Pakistan will no longer be able to overcome it. Bat is that ICC is India’s Hath Mein (the fact is simple: ICC is in India’s hands), and that is it.”
In particular, the ICC has already announced that Pycroft will be a match referee for the India-Pakistan Super Four Clash despite the “No-Handshek” saga in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday. He will end all matches to be held at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.