In a bid to improve your fitness levels, PakistanPakistan players are all set to train with the Pakistan Army after the conclusion of the ongoing Pakistan Super League. PSL 2024 is scheduled to end on March 18.
One week after the PSL 2024 final, training will begin. Players will be with the army from March 25 to April 8. Newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi announced the details of the training camp on Tuesday (March 5) at a hotel in Islamabad while addressing several players.
Noting that Pakistan players failed to hit a six in the stands, Naqvi said he had asked PCB officials to come up with a plan to improve the fitness of each cricketer.
He also stated that it was difficult to find a window for the training camp due to the busy period ahead before confirming that the camp with the Pakistan Army would take place in Kakul.
“When I was watching the matches in Lahore, I don’t think any of you hit a six that went into the stands,” Naqvi said. “Every time a six was hit like that, I used to think that a foreign player must have hit it. I have asked the board of directors to develop a plan that improves the physical condition of each player. You will have to make adequate effort for that.
“We have New Zealand ahead of us, then Ireland, England and the T20 World Cup. He asked me: ‘When will we train?’ but there was no time. However, we have found a window, where we have organized a camp at Kakul (military academy) from March 25 to April 8. The Pakistan Army will be involved in his training and hopefully they will help him.” he added.
A report by ESPNcricinfo has stated that an intensive training camp in one of the few windows in which the players would have rested is likely to be unpopular. Pakistan players have been playing non-stop cricket for the last few months and would have liked to rest after the conclusion of the PSL. However, the PCB has decided otherwise.
As far as training with the army is concerned, it is not new for Pakistani cricket. The Misbah-ul-Haq-led Pakistan had trained with the army in Kakul before going on a tour. England. The former Pakistan captain had scored a century in the first Test and celebrated by doing push-ups and a military salute. The series had ended 2-2.
Mohsin Naqvi’s advice for Pakistan players:
Mohsin Naqvi also urged Pakistan cricketers to prioritize playing for the national team over T20 leagues. The club vs country debate has once again been the talk of the town after Haris Rauf decided not to participate in the three-match Test series in Australia. Recently, the PCB terminated the central contract of the pacer.
“I am not going to say that you should not make money or ask you to make sacrifices that we are not willing to make either. But let me give you an example. A year ago, I was asked to be the chief minister of Punjab and it caused me a financial loss in my business. I had to put that aside and incur several extra costs. But I had the desire to represent Pakistan and that’s why I had to make that sacrifice.
“I will support you 100%, but I will only ask you to make Pakistan your first priority and the T20 leagues your second priority. It is unfortunate that money becomes the first priority and the country second. If you do that, then we might have a problem. We can even examine the central contracts and strengthen them further if you wish, but first and foremost it must be available to Pakistan.” Naqvi said.