Old horses Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan fittest cricketers in the Pakistan team

More than half of the 31 probable of the Pakistan Cricket Team, who are part of the boot camp in preparation for the England tour, have failed the fitness tests.

The 4-day fitness test conducted by Pakistan team fielding coach Grant Luden and military fitness instructors held at held at the Kakul Military Academy in Abbottabad included fitness drills long distance running, 100-metre sprints, hurdles sprint and steep climbing.

Interestingly, the two fittest players are said to be Test captain, 41-year-old Misbah-ul-Haq, and 38-year-old Younis Khan. Fawad Alam and opener Shaan Masood have also been outstanding in the fitness drills carried out so far in the camp since last week. Senior players Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, along with Haris Sohail and Emmad Wasim, have not appeared in the tests since they are carrying niggling injuries

“What is of concern is that apart from few players rest have just failed to satisfy the military trainers and the Pakistan team fielding coach and fitness trainer Grant Luden in the fitness drills,” a source told PTI.

“Misbah ul Haq, Younis Khan, Shaan Maqsood and Fawad Alam have maintained a consistent standard,” he said.

He said that after the early results in the camp, the military trainers and Ludan have now devised a plan for the other players which mean they now have to wake up at 7 am and do the drills till 12 noon.

“The PCB has made it very clear that fitness will be a key element while deciding the touring squad for England,” the source said.

He said that after the disappointing results of the fitness tests held at the national cricket academy in Lahore before the boot camp the board is very serious about players meeting required fitness standards.

“One reason for the decline in the team’s performances in the limited-over format in recent months has been a general low level of fitness among the players,” he added.

He said this fact had been highlighted by outgoing coach Waqar Younis and the senior manager Intikhab Alam in their reports after the Asia Cup and the World T20.