28/07/2026
In last 2 hours I lost it badly while watching a test match .....so many questions has been raised ------------------------------------------Why Pakistan Struggles While Chasing — And What Young Cricketers Must Learn From It
Lack of second-innings performers in Pakistan cricket — chasing in ODIs, chasing in T20s — it always struggles, as fitness levels are low and pressure-handling issues are always there in Pakistan cricket (unfortunately). So just practicing every day is not enough; we must do pressure-handling drills, competitive practice, challenging drills, mental toughness drills, ask questions, and learn to be a leader rather than a follower.
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Why This Matters for You
These are not just habits for international players — young cricketers must build them early. A player who learns to handle pressure at U-14 , U-16 or U19 level, will carry that confidence into every big match ahead. The habits you build in the academy now — how you react to a tight run chase, a dropped catch, or a tough over — will decide the player you become at senior level.
----------------------------------------Why Chasing Is So Different From Batting First
When you bat first, you set your own pace. But when you chase, every ball comes with a target attached. You always know how many runs are needed, how many balls are left, and how many wickets you can afford to lose. This constant scoreboard pressure is what breaks most young batters — not a lack of skill, but a lack of practice in
"thinking clearly under pressure"
-----------------------------------------What We Will Focus On in Academy Training
------------------------------------- Pressure-Handling Drills
Instead of just batting in the nets, we will create real match situations -for example, "defend 10 runs in the last over" or "chase 20 off 12 balls." This forces you to make decisions under pressure, not just hit balls freely.
-----------------------------------------Competitive Practice
Practice should feel like a contest, not routine. Bowlers should try their hardest to get you out, and batters should try their hardest to score. Easy, relaxed practice does not prepare you for match pressure.
---------------------------------------- Challenging Drills
We will regularly change the difficulty — tougher fields, tighter targets, tired conditions — so your skills are tested, not just repeated.
----------------------------------------Mental Toughness Drills
This means training your mind, not just your body. Learning to stay calm after a dot ball, a bad shot, or a dropped catch is just as important as technique. A cricketer with a calm mind makes better decisions.
-------------------------------- Asking Questions
Don't just follow instructions blindly. Ask your coach (why)a certain shot is played in a certain situation, or why a field is set a certain way. Understanding the game deeply is what separates a smart cricketer from an average one.
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Learning to Be a Leader, Not Just a Follower
Even if you are not the captain, think like one. Read the game situation yourself — how many runs are needed, what the bowler is trying to do, what field is set. Players who think for themselves make better decisions under pressure than players who only wait for instructions.
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The Bigger Lesson
Fitness matters too. A tired body leads to a tired mind, and a tired mind makes panicked decisions in a run chase. So along with cricket skills, physical fitness must be part of your daily routine — not just before a match, but every single day.
Pakistan's struggles in run chases at the international level are a lesson for all of us. Talent alone is not enough. The players who succeed under pressure are the ones who have trained for pressure — again and again, in practice, long before it matters in a real match.
Remember:
champions are not born in comfortable practice sessions. They are built in the tough ones.
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