'We engaged in confidence-building exercises' - Babar Azam emphasises on perks of Kakul training camp with Pakistan Army

Pakistan Cricket has undergone intense changes in the last few months. The developments started after Pakistan’s exit in the league stages of the World Cup 2023. There were changes in the captaincy and as well as the coaching staff. The Pakistan Cricket Board itself underwent many tweaks. Ahead of the impending tournaments, the newly appointed board members sent a bunch of cricketers to Kakul, to train with the Pakistan Army.

Babar Azam has many reasons to find himself in a happy space. The newly appointed selection committee restored him as the Pakistan captain as Shaheen Afridi had to step down after a brief period. Babar is also the part of cricketers' roster who indulged with the Army for training. He has expressed that the camp has strengthened the unity among the players and has played a vital role in their mental and physical development. 

“This time, our focus extended beyond physical fitness to encompass team bonding activities and performance-improving lectures. These elements are crucial considering our team environment where collective performance is paramount for achieving desired result. The notable deviation from previous camps was the absence of cricket-centric activities. Instead, the emphasis was squarely on physical conditioning, teamwork and mental resilience,” said Babar as quoted by Dawn.

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“I’m confident that we will return to competitive cricket as better, fitter and mentally tougher athletes, thereby enhancing our overall performance. Unlike our usual routine during other camps and international series, we engaged in confidence-building exercises and team-building activities. Notably, we opted to share rooms, facilitating deeper connections among team members,” he added.

There was a significant emphasis on physical fitness: Naseem Shah

Naseem Shah who got injured just before the World Cup 2023 had to miss out on his debut in the marquee event. However, he has recuperated well and took part in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League 2024 for Islamabad United. He expressed that the fitness aspect was the most important part of the camp. Imad Wasim, who un-retired and made himself available for the T20 World Cup 2024 shared that the training and drills were different from cricket training.

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“There was a significant emphasis on physical fitness… I believe we have successfully met our objectives, and I’ll return as a fitter and more adept athlete,” said Naseem.

“These sessions and drills were markedly different from cricket-related training…we dedicated extra hours that I’m confident will benefit us all in match situations,” Imad added.