PCB boss defends players’ military training after injuries denied Pakistan series win over NZ
PCB boss defends players’ military training after key players miss NZ series
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has defendedplayers’military training session in Kakul with some of them getting injured and not playing inthe five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Following a ten-day training camp withPakistan’smilitary, ending on April 8, three players, including Azam Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, and rookie Irfan Niazi, suffered muscle injuries.
While keeper-batter Azam Khan missed the entire series with a calf injury, Rizwan and Niazi got sidelined for the final two T20Is with hamstring injuries.
Backing the training camp, the PCB boss said that considering Pakistancricket’sfitness levels are below par compared to other countries, this camp was necessary, with fitness training having nothing to do with players pulling up their muscles.
ALSO READ:IPL 2024: Will Jacks hits maiden hundred as RCB register back-to-back wins
Naqvi also noted that this is just the beginning, and players will undergo similar sessions in times to come to ensure they are at par with players from other teams concerning fitness.
)
Hidden inside mountain, protected by Russian missiles: What's inside Iran's Fordow nuclear facility? Here's how it can be destroyed
)
Godfather of AI reveals THIS one job AI won't replace | SPOILER: It's not a desk job
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Doomsday fish seen four times this year, including in India. Here are all the recent sightings
)
‘It’s either us or them’: Netanyahu says Israel-Iran conflict will bring ‘a different Middle East’
)
'Mass murderer, dictator, b***ard': Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir heckled by protesters in US - WATCH
)
'Not going to kill Khamenei, for now': Trump warns US knows where Iran’s Supreme Leader is hiding
)
‘It would be chaos’: Macron warns against forcing regime change in Iran amid Trump’s threats
)
US military footage shows strange flying disc over Afghan-Pakistan border. Watch
)
'Tankers moving closer, warships deployed': Is US military ready to enter Israel-Iran war? Here's what the weapon movement suggest
)
Trump gearing to join Israel-Iran war? US moves fighter jets to Middle East, including F-35s
)
Israel strikes Iran centrifuge production and weapons manufacturing sites - why it's a big blow to Khamenei's nuke desire | WION Explains
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Prince Al-Waleed is called Saudi Arabia’s 'Sleeping Prince' and has he finally woken up?
)
US to join Israel in its war against Iran as Trump wants Ali Khamenei to give up 'entirely': American media
)
'US strike will have serious consequences': Khamenei says 'Iran will not surrender' in first address after Israel's strike - Here's what he said
)
'Why isn't it...?' A glass of water at Tiangong Space Station leads to questions
)
Trump to meet Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir amid Israel-Iran war. What's happening?
)
Yograj Singh tears into BCCI selectors for pushing careers of 'these seven players into gutter'
)
'Today, it’s Tel Aviv. Tomorrow, it’s New York': Netanyahu says US must back Israel or face Iran’s wrath next
)
Greatest player in Wimbledon? Roger Federer could have won 12 titles if not for Novak Djokovic
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
2025 could be reviving the ghost of 1941! Is it a cursed year? Let’s decode..
)
Iran's Khamenei issues 3rd threatening message of the day to Israel - this time in Hebrew. Here's what he says
)
Trump considering strike on Iran? US President holds national security meeting as tensions rise in Mideast
)
Israel running low on missile interceptors? Can last only '10-12 days' in war with Iran. Here's what's ahead for Netanyahu
)
'US will get same response': Iran's BIG threat if America ‘gets directly involved’ with Israel, says NO to giving up nuclear energy
"Injuries never occur due to fitness training,"Naqvi said."People have got various theories around how to make players fit. Fitness has never been a focus of Pakistan management in the past."
"Iam not criticising anyone that came before me, but look at players from the rest of the world. Pakistanplayers'fitness is well below that.Thisis just the start; wewill have toramp up player fitness even more. If I need to bring in fitness experts from around the world, I will,”he continued.
Playing cricket led toinjuries
Azhar Mahmood -Pakistan’scoach for the New Zealand series, said those injuries happened while playing cricket and not because of the training camp in Kakul.
"Kakul training had nothing to do with cricket,"he said.
"The injury the players sustained happened [while] playing cricket, and the training had to do with physical fitness.If the players were injured,theywouldn'thave played the first game. AndAzam Khanwas not injuredbefore the series, hewas injuredin the nets,”he noted.
Naqvi also said that he informed the players during PSL this year that he has organised this camp to work on their fitness, speed and ability to hit massive sixes.
"When I was watching the matches in Lahore, Idon'tthinka singleone of you hit a six that went into the stands,"Naqvi said earlier.
"Whenevera 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 everyplayer'sfitness up to speed.You'llhave to make a proper effort for that,”he had said.