Head coach and chief selector, Misbah Ul Haq, wants Pakistan to have a national camp at the earliest before the tour of England later this summer. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, is yet to sort out the logistical issues that would help resume training for the national side after a lengthy COVID-19 hiatus.
A PCB source close to the development told PTI that the board's plans were to invite 30 to 35 players for the camp at the NCA in Lahore. Of those, 25 will be finally selected for the yet unconfirmed bio-secure tour to the UK for three Tests and three T20Is.
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"It has become a logistical headache for the board to organise the camp since the boarding-lodging facilities at the national cricket academy in Lahore are not enough to accommodate 30 players plus officials,” the source said.
"The idea (as communicated between Misbah and the board) is that the players stay at the NCA and also train in groups and use the facilities for training at the academy and net practice. But the problem is accommodating such a large number of players and officials at one time."
Misbah, the former skipper, is understood to have told the board that once players report at the academy, they'll not be allowed to go back home or meet with anyone from outside the training group for safety purposes before flying over to England.
"Logistically, it is a problem because Misbah’s plan is that the players start training in small groups so that they are safe from the Covid-19. Tests of all players and officials will be conducted before they attend the camp," said the source.
Selected players, as is being planned, will first adhere to the quarantine rules in England and then take part in the on-field action.
"He (Misbah) wants the players to adjust to similar quarantine/bio-safety conditions so they don’t face problems adjusting in England."
The PCB is expected to announce the list of players who will take part in the camp by Wednesday (June 4). It is understood that all centrally contracted players will be there. The source, however, said: "even players without central contracts like Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Aamir, Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Hafeez and other top performers off domestic cricket will be invited to the camp."
The board will be watching developments regarding West Indies' visit to England in July with keen interest, as it would help with the planning and preparations for Pakistan's series.
It is learnt that the quarantine camp at the NCA had been planned on the back of approval from national health authorities and proper government clearance.
(Inputs from PTI)
