Reports: PCB set to impose $500 fine on 'ill-disciplined' cricketers

In an interesting turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly decided to impose a hefty $500 fine on cricketers who will be found 'sleeping' inside the dressing room during match hours.

Sources told Geo News about this unique development. PCB has decided to give immense priority to the discipline of the team. The players will be monitored at all times during match hours as they won't be allowed to take a nap in the dressing room when they are not playing a match.

"The players have been warned and informed about the development. It is done on the instructions of Team Director Mohammad Hafeez," the source said.

According to the sources, under the previous management, Pakistani players were not penalised for sleeping during match hours inside the dressing room. However, the new management has now informed the players that their old practice won't be allowed anymore. Anyone guilty of violating the code of conduct will have to pay a penalty of $500.

After failing to make the knockouts of the ODI World Cup 2023 last month, wholesale changes were made in the PCB management as well as the team's support staff. Hafeez took over the role of Team Director from Mickey Arthur after the World Cup. Batting coach Andrew Puttick was replaced by Adam Hollioake. Morne Morkel was the bowling coach under the previous regime. However, he has been shown the door after the World Cup debacle and Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal have been appointed as the fast-bowling coach and spin-bowling coach, respectively.

Pakistan are currently playing a three-match Test series in Australia. The Asian giants lost the first Test by 360 runs in Perth. At the end of Day 3 of the ongoing second Test in Melbourne, Australia have a second-innings lead of 241 with four wickets in the bank. Pakistan's last Test win on Australian soil came in 1995. They are yet to win a Test series Down Under.