PCB appoints `shrink` to counsel troubled cricketers

The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed sports psychologist Magbool Babri to counsel players, including banned pace bowler Mohammad Amir.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed sports psychologist Magbool Babri to counsel players, including banned pace bowler Mohammad Amir.

Amir, 19, is serving a five-year ban following the spot-fixing scandal in the 2010 Lord`s Test against England. He has been ordered to attend regular anti-corruption lectures and counseling sessions with a sports psychologist. "I had a good two-hour session with Amir today and the good thing is he responded well and realises how he has damaged himself and Pakistan cricket with his actions," said Babri. A PCB spokesman said the board decided to appoint a sports psychologist after a growing number of incidents 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 counseling," the spokesman added. ANI