Pakistan team to train with army to improve fitness standards, confirms PCB chairman

Pakistan team will next play New Zealand at home in a T20I series.

By Jatin Sharma - 06 Mar, 2024

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that the Men in Green are set to train with the nation's army, from March 25 to April 8 in a ten-day training camp.

The camp will get underway once the ongoing PSL 2024 concludes on March 18 and Naqvi is hopeful that players will get their fitness "up to speed."

"When I was watching the matches in Lahore, I don't think a single one of you hit a six that went into the stands. Whenever a six like that was hit, I used to think a foreign player must have hit that. I have asked the board to make a plan that gets every player's fitness up to speed. You'll have to make a proper effort for that," Naqvi said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"We have New Zealand coming up, then Ireland, England and the T20 World Cup. I wondered, 'When will we train?' but there was no time. However, we've found a window, where we've organized a camp in Kakul (military academy) from March 25 to April 8. The Pakistan Army will be involved in your training, and hopefully, they'll help you out." he added.

This is the second time the Pakistan cricket team will train with the military. The last time this happened was during Misbah Ul Haq’s captaincy when the team had a training camp with the military at Kakul Academy to gear up for their Test series against England.

Misbah scored a century in the first Test and did ten pushups and a military salute in celebration.

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Naqvi went on to emphasize the necessity of players prioritizing national commitments above international T20 leagues.

"I'm not going to say you mustn't earn money, or ask you to make sacrifices we are also not ready to make. But let me give you one example. One year ago, I was asked to become the chief minister of Punjab, and it caused me a financial loss in my business. I had to leave that aside and incur several extra costs. But I had a desire to represent Pakistan, and so I had to make that sacrifice," Naqvi said.

"I will support you 100 percent, but I'll just ask you to make Pakistan your first priority, and T20 leagues your second priority. It's unfortunate when money becomes first priority and the country second. If you do that, then we might have a problem. We can even look at central contracts and bolster them further if you desire, but you must be available for Pakistan first and foremost," Naqvi added.

Pakistan is currently without a coaching set-up at the national level, and Naqvi briefly mentioned the PCB was in touch with potential options, saying no expense would be spared.

(ANI inputs)

By Jatin Sharma - 06 Mar, 2024

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