The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a strict step ahead of the upcoming three-match Test series against the England National Cricket Team. As per PTI reports, the governing body is learned to have warned 6-7 players that they will have to stay fit or else face termination of contact.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) conducted fitness tests of the players earlier this month and few players reportedly did not meet the requirements. And after that, the governing body decided to conduct the fitness test on Monday (September 30) in Lahore before the Tests against England.

Reports claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has categorically told the players that they will not compromise on their fitness and that they must comply with the requirements. It also emerged that head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie asked the president that no player should receive any fitness-related benefits.

A source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the development to PTI. He mentioned: “Players on central and national contracts have been told in clear terms that there will be no compromise on their fitness and that they have to meet the benchmarks set by the team’s fitness experts,” he said. a board official.

“The two foreign coaches, Jason Gillispie and Gary Kirsten, told the PCB chairman that no player should receive any benefits in terms of their fitness level.” He added.

The PCB gave two months to players who struggled to reach the benchmark in fitness tests

Reports claim that fitness tests aim to evaluate stamina, stamina, muscle strength, and other crucial factors. The Pakistan team, since the last few months, has come under serious scrutiny and the PCB is ensuring that they emphasize on fitness.

It is also learned that PCB gave players who struggled to reach the benchmark in the fitness tests earlier this month two months to improve their fitness. The reports added that the tests that will be carried out on Monday will be part of the evaluation process.

Fitness became the topic of conversation in Pakistan after former director of cricket Mohammad Hafeez revealed that head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Babar Azam had ordered the coach not to put pressure on players about their fitness, allowing them focus on performance. This made things complicated in Pakistan Cricket and since then the players have been under serious scrutiny.

The team’s performance has not been up to par either. After a debacle in the 2024 T20 World Cup, they lost the test series against the Bangladesh national cricket team. The Shan Masood-led team faced a 2-0 whitewash and it also affected their chances of reaching the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

Pakistan will next be seen in action when they take on the England national cricket team in the three-match series. The series will begin on October 7 at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan, followed by the second match to be played at the same venue from October 15.

The series will conclude in Rawalpindi, which will host the last match from October 24. The Shan Masood-led team will also conduct a pre-match camp ahead of the first match of the series in Multan, which will begin on October 1.