'Fitness is not the priority' - Ex-PCB Director Mohammad Hafeez reveals shocking truth regarding fitness standards in national team

The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director appeared on a television show shortly after him parting ways with the organization. In a surprising revelation, Hafeez spilled the beans on the national team not prioritising fitness at the highest level, especially in relation to players representing the side in red-ball cricket. According to him, the then-skipper Babar Azam and other coaching panel refuted focusing on their fitness regimes, while encouraging on playing their natural game.

This exposition raises serious concerns, particularly in a sporting landscape where fitness has increasingly become a crucial ingredient of success. With cricket evolving at a rapid pace, athleticism and physical conditioning are no longer mere add-ons but fundamental requirements for top-level performance. For players representing their team in multiple formats, keeping the body in good shape has become a norm of late.

Speaking to A Sports, Hafeez revealed, “When we reached Australia, I spoke to the team, the captain (Babar Azam), and the management and told them to prioritise fitness. I asked the trainer about the standards of fitness which are being followed. But the trainer told me, six months ago, the management and captain had instructed me not to prioritise fitness and not to check the fitness of the players, and let them play their natural game.”

“After six months when I observed them, the fat level, which plays an important role in the international level of the players, had transcended almost twice the standard level,” he added.

Fitness a possible reason behind dismal performances of Pakistan

The Men in Green have had a terrible time in the recent past, having unsatisfactory performances at the Asia Cup and the 50-over World Cup. This was followed by a Test series whitewash against Australia under the leadership of Shan Masood, who took over the captaincy duties after PCB's decision to take the load off Babar Azam by relieving him off the captain's role. More recently, the team also lost the T20I series vs New Zealand by a harsh 4-1 margin. The former cricketer revealing the repercussions of neglecting fitness holds a significant position, as he was with the team during the said course.

Hafeez's remarks add fuel to the fire ignited after his recent departure from the board. The 43-year-old later said that he would reveal the 'amateur non-cricketing facts' behind the team's subpar performances.

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