The PCB needs to invest in players’ fitness: Dwyer

Pakistan cricket team’s fitness trainer rued the state of the domestic structure with regards to fitness training.

LEEDS: Pakistan cricket team’s fitness trainer David Dwyer has rued the state of the domestic structure with regards to fitness training but vowed to turn the ‘place upside down’ for the benefit of the sport in the country if given the funds and freedom.

Dwyer, who resigned from his full-time post with the team after the tour of Australia, is working on a series-by-series basis and has been lauded by the Pakistan Cricket Board and the players for his efforts in the past.

“I left because of personal reasons, I wasn’t able to see my family much but it was difficult to leave because of the strong bond I had with the players,” Dwyer told The Express Tribune. “It’s difficult in a foreign country that is relatively volatile but the team’s full of wonderful people and that draws you back.”

Pakistan’s domestic structure is widely known to not cater to players’ fitness levels and training. While admiring the efforts and the willingness of the youngsters to achieve peak fitness in the national squad, Dwyer emphasised the need of a proper system that prepares them prior to their selection.

“It can be very difficult and frustrating as they come in to become fit when they should’ve been through a domestic fitness structure and come to me in a better state. I find it hard because now I’m years behind the Australian structure.”

According to Dwyer, while improvements have been registered, there was a long way to go before Pakistan can field fitness levels close to their foreign counterparts.

“I’ve given recommendations and proposals over the last few years on what we need and why we need it. But cricket’s in a state of flux and with change in chairmen, captain and coaches there’s a constant turnover. And because everyone wants to put in their own system, you seem to start from scratch and that makes it difficult.”

Dwyer, however, has refused to give up, despite the rather unconstructive surroundings and conditions and has vowed to leave the place in a much better state.

“I can turn the place upside down, on its head and I would have it operating like an Australia structure in twelve months given the funds and freedom. I know it’s difficult given the absence of international cricket at home but you need to invest in your future and that’s an important step towards that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2010.