WC 2015 IND vs PAK: “Fans have put too much ego and prestige ?on the shoulders of the players,” says Pakistani psychologist

Mumbai: The fans of the sub-continent are advised by a Pakistani psychologist Dr. Max Maqbool Babri to keep Sunday's important World Cup match between India and Pakistan as "any other game".

The Pakistani team's former psychologist, while speaking over telephone from Lahore on Saturday, says, "The match must be enjoyed and celebrated irrespective of the result. The better team on the day will win, there is no need to hate, kill or get a heart attack just because one or the other team is a better team on the certain day."

"TV audiences are advised to keep themselves sufficiently hydrated and before the match visualise that one team will win and it may or may not be the team they are supporting. Recognising that either team winning is actually not the end of the world for the other team or its supporters," Babri said. 

"India and Pakistan playing their opening 2015 World Cup match is a world sensation and not only for over a billion people in India and Pakistan. The people of the sub-continent have put too much ego and prestige ?on the shoulders of the players who will be representing the two countries," he added.

"Winning is important, but even more important is playing great cricket and having a good match; the teams should focus on enjoying ?the game and doing their best. The stress and anxiety is often not beneficial and could even paralyse the players if it becomes too much," Babri said. 

"The pressure could be released by the players remaining in the present and in "here and now", and not worrying much about the results. The result from a psychological point of view is a by-product of enjoying the game and remaining in here and now and hence focused of the game in the present without worrying too much about the results or about the reactions of the public on the sub-continent," he said.

"Sports are played to encourage peace and friendship. Hopefully, the population of the sub-continent will learn to appreciate great cricket and hence promote goodwill and positive empathy for each other," Babri signed off.