PCB to deduct players’ salary if they fail to meet the fitness standards

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under new leadership is going in a totally different direction it seems. After being slammed for terrible fitness standards during the 2019 World Cup, where the team players were seen gorging on burgers and pizzas by fans and videos uploaded of the same; the PCB has decided to conduct mandatory fitness tests for its centrally contracted players.

The players will be undergoing compulsory fitness tests under the watchful eyes of the team’s strength and conditioning coach Yasir Malik at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on January 6 and 7. The Pakistan board revealed further details about the same in a press release, which also stated that Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, and Shadab Khan will undergo tests on January 20 and 21, given that they are playing in BPL at the moment.

PCB to fine players 15 per cent of their salary for failure to maintain fitness levels

“All the available centrally contracted players will attend the two-day testing, which is aligned to their contracts. Any player failing to meet the minimum fitness requirements will be fined 15 per cent of his monthly retainer, which will remain effective until such time he achieves the minimum fitness standards, Player, failing consecutive tests will risk the chances of retaining his central contract category and may face demotion,” PCB officials said in a press release.

Zakir Khan, PCB – Director, International Cricket further shed light on the issue of players’ fitness levels given the criticism during the World Cup as the Men in Green failed to make it into the semi-finals of the tournament. Even new head coach Misbah Ul Haq asked for a change in diet for the team players in the national camp and domestic cricket o ensure standardized levels across all levels.

“This time we have decided to enforce penalties, which is in accordance with the contracts, as part of our objective to make the players more accountable and responsible for maintaining high fitness standards throughout the year, which is one of the basic requirements any professional athlete,” Zakir was quoted as saying by IndiaToday.in.

Centrally contracted players:

Category A– Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah

Category B– Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Abbas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Category C- Abid Ali, Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz.

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