Following recent controversies, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have hired a sports psychologist to council problem players including Mohammad Amir. Amir, the pace bowler who is currently serving a five-year ban for his participation in spot-fixing at 2010 Lord’s test match against England, has been disciplined to attend regular anti-corruption lectures along with his counselling sessions.
Magbool Babri, the sports psychologist who has been hired to address problem players amongst the Pakistani cricket team, has reported that 19-year-old Amir has responded well to their first session.
Dr Babri told Reuters on Sunday: “I had a good two-hour session today with Amir today and the good thing is he responded well and realizes how he has damaged himself and Pakistan cricket with his actions.”
Dr Babri, who is also a hypnotherapist, has been hired by the PCB to work with other players who have been recognised for having disciplinary and attitude problems over the years. Chief Operating Officer of the PCB Subhan Ahmad commented on the rising number of players going astray: “Amir’s case is a classic one. He went down the wrong path and took the wrong decisions because of his young age. We hope the players can be reformed with proper counselling,”
Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were first suspended in September 2010 for their role in spot-fixing and were later banned for a minimum of five years by the anti-corruption tribunal of the ICC in February 2011. Amir returned home in February after completing a six month jail term awarded in October 2011 by a British crown court but is still serving his ban.
