Mohammad Hafeez: “The trainer told me, six months ago, the management and captain had instructed me not to prioritise fitness and not to check the fitness of the players, and [to] let them play their natural game”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan team director and interim head coach Mohammad Hafeez has accused star batsman Babar Azam of refusing to prioritise players’ fitness.
Ramiz Raja: “My main concern is… what are his fitness levels and what impact does it have on the team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his concerns about left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fitness and questioned whether it will affect the national team.
Wahab Riaz: “The previous management did not ask the players about their fitness levels. The logic behind this was that they pampered the players a lot. Some of the players couldn’t even run 2 km”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Pakistan chief selector Wahab Riaz has slammed some of the national players for their poor fitness levels, saying they “couldn’t even run 2 km.”
Shahid Afridi: “He needs to work really hard on them (form and fitness) and especially his fitness”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Legendary Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan’s fitness levels are not up to par.
Aaqib Javed: “They had to compromise in fitness as far as Azam Khan’s selection is concerned”
Image courtesy of: Pakistan Super League
Former Pakistan seamer Aaqib Javed said the national team had to compromise on their fitness standards in order to pick wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan.
Misbah-ul-Haq: “We have an example of Azam Khan, he is [an] immensely talented player, a wicketkeeper, a white-ball player that Pakistan needs but his fitness is not in accordance with international standards, same is the case with Sharjeel Khan”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq believes power-hitters Azam Khan and Sharjeel Khan are talented players, but added that their fitness levels are not good enough at the moment.
Naseem Shah: “I believe that if you are good enough, you are old enough”
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Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has made it clear that even though people have doubts about whether he should be playing international cricket right now, all that matters is that he believes he is good enough.
Babar Azam: “Sarfaraz has made some terrific improvements in fitness and is one of the fittest at the moment”
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Pakistan Twenty20 captain Babar Azam has revealed that Sarfaraz Ahmed has “made some terrific improvements in fitness” and is now “one of the fittest” players.
Clarke does not want to see any of his players succumb to long-term injuries
Australia captain Michael Clarke has defended his decision to rest key players at certain points during a series, stating that all of them complained of minor niggles and as skipper, his responsibility was to ensure that those minor aches and pains heal as soon as possible instead of letting them get even more aggravated by allowing those players to play through it.
Sarwan could be looking to get back into the national team
West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has announced that he will be resigning from the board of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) effective immediately.
