'When will we train?' - PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi asks Pakistan cricket team to train with country’s army in March-April

The Pakistan national cricket team is all set to collaborate with the country’s army from March 25 to April 8 in a ten-day training camp to get their fitness up to speed ahead of upcoming important assignments. 

The camp will begin a week after the PSL (Pakistan Super League) 2024 ends, and the announcement for the same was made by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday, March 5. Speaking of the same, Naqvi opined that he did not see any Pakistan player hit a six in the stands in the PSL, and whenever a six in the stands was hit, he thought a foreign player had hit it, which highlights the ever-rising importance of the training camp with the Pakistan army. 

"When I was watching the matches in Lahore, I don't think a single one of you hit a six that went into the stands. Whenever a six like that was hit, I used to think a foreign player must have hit that. I have asked the board to make a plan that gets every player's fitness up to speed. You'll have to make a proper effort for that,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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We have T20 World Cup, I wondered, 'When will we train?' : PCB Chairman

Besides, the PCB chairman also iterated that post the New Zealand series, there will be an England tour along with having to play with Ireland. Moreover, the all-important T20 World Cup, which will take place later this year in the West Indies and the USA, respectively. Hence, keeping in mind the tough schedule, the board identified a short span available for players to train before going into the marquee event.

"We have New Zealand coming up, then Ireland, England and the T20 World Cup. I wondered, 'When will we train?' but there was no time. However, we've found a window, where we've organised a camp in Kakul (military academy) from March 25 to April 8. The Pakistan Army will be involved in your training, and hopefully, they'll help you out,” Naqvi further added.

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With the camp looming on the horizon, its success could be under threat as well. Organising a camp when the players would have otherwise rested and spent time with their families could cause some issues. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the camp coincides with the second half of the holy month of Ramzan, and the effectiveness of the camp is made tricky after knowing that most of the team members will be fasting with no food or water from sunrise to sunset.