PCB Issues Ultimatum: Fitness or Lose Contracts

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) warned six to seven centrally contracted players to improve their fitness or risk losing their contracts. Fitness tests will be conducted in Lahore, assessing stamina, endurance, muscle strength, and other crucial factors. The PCB may announce a reduced list of centrally contracted players for the 2024/2025 period.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a stern warning to six to seven centrally contracted players, urging them to improve their fitness or risk losing their contracts.

The team's fitness trainer and physiotherapist are scheduled to conduct another round of fitness tests on Monday in Lahore after some players failed to meet the required benchmarks in earlier tests held this month.

"The players who have central and domestic contracts have been told in clear terms that there will be no compromise on fitness and they have to meet the benchmarks set by the team's fitness experts," a board official stated.

These tests aim to assess various fitness aspects, including stamina, endurance, and muscle strength. The two foreign head coaches, Jason Gillispie and Gary Kirsten, emphasized to the PCB Chairman that no player should receive leniency regarding fitness levels.

The board has postponed announcing the list of players eligible for central contracts for the 2024/2025 period, which typically spans from July to July. Last year, the announcement was delayed until September due to leadership changes within the board.

This year, it is anticipated that the number of players receiving central contracts from the existing list of 27 will be reduced, as the new coaches place significant emphasis on performance and behavioral evaluations.

The players who struggled to meet the fitness benchmarks earlier this year were given two months to improve. Monday's tests are part of the ongoing evaluation process.

The Pakistan team has often faced criticism for its fitness standards compared to other international teams. Post-World Cup in India last year, team director Muhammad Hafeez and former captain Misbah ul Haq revealed that the previous head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Babar Azam had advised the trainer not to press players on fitness to allow them to focus on performance.

(With inputs from agencies.)