With so many cricketers getting married these days, the conversation on the streets among all cricket fans after their favorite players get married has become a huge concern about their on-field performances. From Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf to Shaheen Afridi and Imam-ul Haq, critics and fans alike have noticed that their performances are not what they used to be.
But former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja believes the fault lies with the stars. “I have never taken my wife on a cricket tour,” the former cricketer claimed. It would be easy to argue that there is a myth surrounding Pakistani cricketers. If a player's performance declines, his or her marriage will become a problem.
But Ramiz argues otherwise. In a recent interview with Suno Digital, the former cricketer discussed the widespread phenomenon and said poor wives are not to blame but rather players' decisions should be scrutinized.
He emphasized that cricketers often travel with their families during tournaments. Athletes have mentally and physically demanding jobs to support their families, which disrupts their concentration and affects their performance.
Talking about how he personally navigated his marriage while pursuing his cricket career, Ramiz said that attending important events with his wife would have distracted him from concentration. She said, “She (my wife) must have suffered as well. As you know, now that I'm doing the commentary, there's no pressure, but I still have to get up early and spend the whole day. And then you come back in the evening and you never know if you’re going to have a mood change,” he explained.
“There is a lot of pressure when you play cricket. After missing two catches and losing the game, you come home, change your kid's diaper, put the kid in the stroller, go to McDonald's, and your wife will want to buy you a sweater. en route. Now tell me. How do you think you’ll feel okay?” Ramiz struck a pose.
The former cricketer suggested that players should extend their stay and spend time with their families later rather than bringing them with them during the tournament. “You can take a week after the tour, take a vacation, and have as much love as you want,” he suggested.
Rather than simply placing the blame on women, it's important to realize that players are willing to bring their families to tournaments. If you are distracted and your performance is poor, it is not because of your family, but rather because of your own decisions.
Ramiz's argument debunks the marital sex myths surrounding athletes and instead provides a basis for looking at the external factors that continue to influence athletes' performance. The idea that a cricketer's performance is always blamed on his marriage or wife represents a very outdated stereotype.
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