Top Pakistan cricketers raise concerns over mental health, NOC delays

Top national cricketers voiced their concerns during the recent PCB Connection Camp, highlighting issues surrounding performance, mental well-being, and delays in obtaining no-objection certificates (NOCs) for foreign league participation, local news reported, citing sources.

Players acknowledged their poor performances in recent matches, with one cricketer emphasizing the need for mental peace to perform well, saying, "To perform well, we need a peaceful mind." This comment underscored the psychological challenges faced by players at the highest level of the game.

A major point of frustration was the PCB's delay in processing NOCs, which the players claimed affected their ability to play in foreign leagues. "The PCB often postpones these requests, and we receive no response,” one player revealed.

Responding to these concerns, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi directed Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer to resolve the NOC-related issues. Sources suggest that the PCB is also reviewing its financial processes and the handling of NOCs, with some officials expressing dissatisfaction over current practices.

Naqvi's recent comments about the national team hinted at significant changes following Pakistan’s defeat to India in the T20 World Cup. Speaking to journalists, Naqvi said, "It seemed that a minor surgery would work, but after this bad performance, I’m now sure that a major surgery is required. The nation will soon see a major overhaul."

Discussions regarding these "surgical" changes continued during the camp, where one player remarked, "[The] PCB should also pay attention to its internal affairs," pointing to how internal issues and the treatment of players impact their mental health and performance.

The day-long camp included top cricketers Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, and Shan Masood.

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