Cricket: Players to undergo fitness trials under coach’s supervision
Pakistan’s coaching panel to identify and asses weak areas.
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s foreign coaching panel will kick off plans to improve the team’s performance in all departments of the game, including the players’ fitness levels, at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) today.
Pakistan head coach Dav Whatmore and fielding coach Julien Fountain have summoned all the players at the NCA where they will undergo fitness trials.
The idea is to identify and assess weak areas in the fitness department as the coaching panel eyes improvement in the side’s fielding performance.
“The process will take
two to three days to complete,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Intikhab Alam told The Express Tribune. “All the players including the seniors and juniors will have to undergo the fitness test.”
The former Pakistan coach and manager said that the trials will be supervised by Whatmore and will be assessed by Fountain besides other members of the coaching panel.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will continue its criterion of selecting players on the basis of their fitness level and performance, irrespective of seniority before announcing this year’s central contract.
Idea floats to hold practice matches
Meanwhile, the PCB’s top brass, including the coaching panel and selection committee, have also discussed arranging practice matches, featuring upcoming youngsters in order to scout out new talent.
Abdul Qadir had advocated the idea during his tenure as chief selector as he felt it was a better way to polish players than organising training camps.
However, Alam said the plan was yet to be finalised. “It is being discussed but nothing is confirmed on it for the time being.”
Sri Lanka yet to be finalised as venue for Australia series
Meanwhile, the official said that Sri Lanka was yet to be finalised as the venue for Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka. “So far we haven’t signed any deal.”
Alam earlier said that Sri Lanka was almost confirmed as the venue for the series in August.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2012.
Pakistan’s foreign coaching panel will kick off plans to improve the team’s performance in all departments of the game, including the players’ fitness levels, at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) today.
Pakistan head coach Dav Whatmore and fielding coach Julien Fountain have summoned all the players at the NCA where they will undergo fitness trials.
The idea is to identify and assess weak areas in the fitness department as the coaching panel eyes improvement in the side’s fielding performance.
“The process will take
two to three days to complete,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Intikhab Alam told The Express Tribune. “All the players including the seniors and juniors will have to undergo the fitness test.”
The former Pakistan coach and manager said that the trials will be supervised by Whatmore and will be assessed by Fountain besides other members of the coaching panel.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will continue its criterion of selecting players on the basis of their fitness level and performance, irrespective of seniority before announcing this year’s central contract.
Idea floats to hold practice matches
Meanwhile, the PCB’s top brass, including the coaching panel and selection committee, have also discussed arranging practice matches, featuring upcoming youngsters in order to scout out new talent.
Abdul Qadir had advocated the idea during his tenure as chief selector as he felt it was a better way to polish players than organising training camps.
However, Alam said the plan was yet to be finalised. “It is being discussed but nothing is confirmed on it for the time being.”
Sri Lanka yet to be finalised as venue for Australia series
Meanwhile, the official said that Sri Lanka was yet to be finalised as the venue for Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka. “So far we haven’t signed any deal.”
Alam earlier said that Sri Lanka was almost confirmed as the venue for the series in August.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2012.