Misbah wants players to use break to ‘reinvigorate’ themselves

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Web Desk
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Head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq. Photo: File

With cricket coming to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq wants the national team players to think of this break as a “chance to reinvigorate” themselves.

“Going forward, I feel mentally what players are thinking is the most important aspect,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo.

According to the 45-year-old, the break help players recharge their batteries making them hungrier than ever when cricket eventually resumes.

“I will be emphasising that you’ve got to believe in yourself and stay positive. Yes, it’s a tough situation but at the same time consider this break a chance to reinvigorate yourself. Several players have been playing consistently and we all need a break from cricket,” he said.

“We will be speaking with players and instilling this in their mind that you are not going to forget your basics, and your game and skillsets will remain with you,” the former Pakistani skipper told the website.

He added, “All you have to do is analyse yourself, and we will help them with feedback from watching their videos. This break will spark more hunger in them, and they will want to play with heart when they return to action. Intrinsically a passionate sportsperson doesn’t want to sit idle, that’s natural, and once you’ve held him back for some time he will come back with more intensity than ever.”

Though the current situation does not allow cricketers to practice, Misbah said it was important the players kept themselves fit when cricketing activities resumed.

“Problem is that at this time nobody has the facilities to practise, so for now the one thing I am talking to players is about fitness,” Misbah said.

“Breaks are never good and it’s a problem for us as cricketers,” Misbah said. “Things were going very smoothly, and we were going to play a Test and ODI against Bangladesh, the now whole sequence and continuity has broken down.

“But nobody can do anything because the situation we all are in is bigger than cricket. It’s important for us to not think about anything other than how to save humanity from this virus,” he added.