Out-of-shape players to meet higher standards

Pakistan cricketers will be fined if they’re not fit, says former fast-bowler Akram.

LAHORE: Pakistan plans to fine its most unfit players if they fail to meet tough new standards, said former fast-bowler Mohammad Akram as he wrapped up a month-long boot camp with the team.

Long regarded as one of cricket’s most mercurial teams, Pakistan have thrived on the efforts of talented individuals in the past — but their fitness levels have often let them down, particularly when fielding.

That is part of the reason they have stayed stuck in the middle rankings over the past decade as fitter teams like Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka have raced ahead.

The team has not been helped by the country’s reputation as a ‘no-go’ location for international squads ever since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people.

The attacks forced Pakistan to play all its home matches in neutral venues within the UAE, while the recent efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board to see an international side play in the troubled country have been further thwarted by terrorism.

Ireland on Wednesday cancelled a scheduled September tour following a militant siege on Karachi airport on Sunday that left 37 people dead, dashing hopes of reviving international cricket following a five year hiatus.

‘We don’t have a fitness culture in Pakistan’

Akram, who took charge of a boot camp last week, said Pakistan was nevertheless aiming to rectify its fitness situation in time for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“We don’t have a fitness culture in Pakistan and we have no cricket schools like England, Australia and South Africa do — so it was in my mind, even in my playing days, that these sort of camps are always helpful,” he said.

Akram said Pakistan had been studying the 17 components of fitness training used by other international teams.

A major emphasis was placed on running – seven kilometres up and down the steps of Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium – as well as strict diet plans and strength training in the gym.

Pakistan has held boot camps before, but players reverted to unhealthy eating and forgetting their training routines in the off-season.

This time there will be no let up, and those who fall short will find themselves out-of-pocket, said Akram.

“Fitness tests will be held every four months which will affect their central contracts and their match fees if they are not achieving their targets,” he said.

“We are giving them nutrition plans,” he added. “If you look at the chart, we don’t want to see overweight. We don’t want to see underweight either. So they have to be taking care of their diet.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2014.

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