New Delhi: Pakistan cricketers are set to face enormous consequences following their humiliating Test series whitewash against Bangladesh. Pakistan slumped to their first-ever loss against Bangladesh, suffering a humbling 0-2 series loss against their neighbours.
The unprecedented series of events has resulted in a massive backlash in the county with criticism of the team coming in from all corners. Now, the Pakistan Cricket Board, unsurprisingly, has decided to act on the players who lack fitness to perform at the highest level.
According to a source close to the PCB, the cricket board will conduct stringent fitness tests before selecting the central contracts list for the next 12 months.
Players who are currently contracted and other international and domestic performers will also come into the ambit.
The fitness test will be held between September 6 and 8 in Lahore under the supervision of white ball head coach Gary Kirsten and the team’s physiotherapist and trainer.
The players will then depart for Faisalabad for the Champions Cup.
Gillespie, Kirsten unhappy with players’ fitness
According to the source, the fitness tests will decide the players who will make the contracts this year. The performances would also be given priority but the fitness of the players remains the priority.
The source further added that both Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie expressed their concern about the fitness of the players and sent a clear message to the selectors and PCB that their first criteria for picking players would be their fitness status.
Head coach Gillispie was reportedly unhappy with the fitness of some Pakistani players during the Test series against Bangladesh and believed that they were unable to sustain the intensity and endurance of the five-day cricket.
Pakistan’s cricket head coach Jason Gillespie attends a press conference at the end of the fourth day of the second and last Test cricket match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on September 2, 2024. (Photo: AFP)
White-ball head coach Kirsten also expressed similar concerns about the fitness level of the players during a meeting with the selectors and board officials.
“The fitness tests will comprise everything to determine how fit a player is, gym training, stamina and endurance runs, yo-yo and other tests would also be held,” the source added.
Around 27 players are currently under central contact but signs are clear that the number will be lesser in the future considering the performances of the national team in the last year in all three formats.
The shocking series loss against Bangladesh has resulted in a massive backlash in Pakistan with criticism of the team coming in from all corners. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
