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Do Pakistani cricketers workout?

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in_cutter

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Watching the likes of Finn, Stokes, Du Plessi, ABD etc...these guys look physically strong...you can tell instantly that they put the work in at the gym...I can't say the same about the Pak cricketers.

Are they lazy? Wrong diet perhaps? Who knows.
 
I hope the fast bowlers don't do it much.

We've seen since Craig McDermott in 1985 that the more gym work quick bowlers do, the slower they get and they become too bulked up and lose the ability to get side-on and swing it away.

Fast bowlers are like aircraft: slower now than in the days of Concorde and the 747 forty years ago.

Good fast bowlers need to do lots of running, lots of bowling and as little gym work as possible.
 
Apparently you have to show up at the gym to do workouts.
 
If they do its probably mostly cardio. Its pretty evident that most of them dont do much strength training maybe with the exception of Misbah and Afridi
 
Probably not with weights just cardio. A good reason why we are still behind the rest of the world.

Do you even lift bruh.
 
Fast bowlers should be flexible, light weight Like Allan donald not Bulky like akhtar.
 
Our team posts a lot of the videos at the gym, but even the everyday PP poster criticizes their form in certain exercises, so that goes to show the intensity and quality of their gym work.

I guess Anwar Ali, Maqsood, Imad, Amir, especially Amir, these guys do some sort of workout. Also throw in Ahmed Shehzad actually.

Also genetics plays a part as does environment. The names in the OP are from first world countries where they've been well fed and exposed to sports and a healthy diet and whatnot from a young age. Their parents were prob fit too, and so they as children picked up those good habits. Back in Pakistan you have the much more geriatric adults, take the generic uncle for instance. The environment also isn't usually where big tough lads will grow out in most cases. Of course, it's different for the well fed families there, where you usually get taller and much more buff looking people.

Also, those guys probably also had gym facilities and whatnot when they were in school. AB and Du Plessis used to do a ton of other sports and IIRC were sport team captains as well. And when you spend so much time at sports you gotta eat a lot too to replace that energy, so it's no surprise the players from the first world countries look much more physically fit than their Asian counterparts.

Take Simon Harmer for e.g. He's a spinner, but the dude looks buff compared to the spinners you find in Pakistan, India or Bangladesh.

Only players from the subcontinent who look as fit as the names in the OP would probably be Taskin Ahmed, the new left handed bowler from India, Sran I think it was. Usman Khan Shinwari from Pakistan, and Shoaib Akhtar pre 2007.
 
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Take Sarfraz Ahmed for example who has put on extra weight. What went wrong?
 
Weight training is a part of the regimen for all international teams. All teams now employ strength and conditioning coaches. But not everyone who lifts weights will look like Shwarznegger. Genetics and diet are equally as important in determining your physique.
 
They probably do, but then you see team pictures of them at dinner. What they eat is more important then the work they put into the gym.

Sent from pone
 
Dios said:
Weight training is a part of the regimen for all international teams. All teams now employ strength and conditioning coaches. But not everyone who lifts weights will look like Shwarznegger. Genetics and diet are equally as important in determining your physique.
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However it is definitely lacking in Pakistan and some of the South Asian teams. Probably due to lack of facilities and funding.

Most of the teams in the "Western" world, are extremely fit and lift with proper form, and to say that that conditioning isn't apparent on the field would be a farce.

People using genetics is not the best argument. Our players are a combination of lazy, not hard working, and lack the facilities to become fit athletes.

We never hear stories of their hard work and dedication or extra time at the gym, or really monitoring their diet. Genetics help but we are making excuses for our players who don't work hard which is apparent minus a couple here or there.
 
OP look at the indian team (historically and now), they have the most scrawniest guys but they bat really well. So your theory is just ignorant and to answer your questions yes they do workout. Have you not seen the likes of Misbah and perhaps the most fittest guy in the team that no one has mentioned so far - Umar Gul.
 
If you want to look at how these 'workouts' dont work out for fast bowlers then look up Aussie bowlers such as Pattinson etc. Made of glass these gym toned blokes.

I am personally in favour of a good workout routine but every 3rd week there is a thread on that.
 
Relapse said:
If you want to look at how these 'workouts' dont work out for fast bowlers then look up Aussie bowlers such as Pattinson etc. Made of glass these gym toned blokes.

I am personally in favour of a good workout routine but every 3rd week there is a thread on that.
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All the oldies or ignorant ones need to realise that these injuries are caused by wrong technique and not because of excess muscle mass.


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axl100mph said:
All the oldies or ignorant ones need to realise that these injuries are caused by wrong technique and not because of excess muscle mass.


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Cricket teams are rich. I am sure they all have professionals to guide the players about the technique of lifting weights.
 
Relapse said:
Cricket teams are rich. I am sure they all have professionals to guide the players about the technique of lifting weights.
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by wrong technique, I mean wrong bowling actions, not their training forms.

Most of these guys work on their actions but in match conditions start reverting to their old habits, when the heat is on and the myopic urge to perform strikes

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axl100mph said:
by wrong technique, I mean wrong bowling actions, not their training forms.

Most of these guys work on their actions but in match conditions start reverting to their old habits, when the heat is on and the myopic urge to perform strikes

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Yeah, that is something i agree with. Also, over-training is a reason as well.
 
axl100mph said:
All the oldies or ignorant ones need to realise that these injuries are caused by wrong technique and not because of excess muscle mass.


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I'm an oldie but I'm a doctor too.

And my argument about both Pattinson and Cummins is:

1. Too much gym work bulking up their upper bodies and waist.
2. This makes it harder for them to generate pace through the momentum of their run up and "running through" their actions side on.
3. They then end up using brute force to generate speed, which puts extra stress on their spine, shins and knees.
4. They play too much limited overs and T20 cricket before they are 25. This makes them strain for pace and put extra stress on the areas listed above.
5. Trafitionally bowlers bowled in two First Class innings per week, a total of perhaps 55-60 overs. Much of that involved bowling at reduced pace with an old ball which they sought to seam or swing.
 
Junaids said:
I'm an oldie but I'm a doctor too.

And my argument about both Pattinson and Cummins is:

1. Too much gym work bulking up their upper bodies and waist.
2. This makes it harder for them to generate pace through the momentum of their run up and "running through" their actions side on.
3. They then end up using brute force to generate speed, which puts extra stress on their spine, shins and knees.
4. They play too much limited overs and T20 cricket before they are 25. This makes them strain for pace and put extra stress on the areas listed above.
5. Trafitionally bowlers bowled in two First Class innings per week, a total of perhaps 55-60 overs. Much of that involved bowling at reduced pace with an old ball which they sought to seam or swing.
Click to expand...

Well put. This was the point i was trying to make as well but your professional opinion put credibility to it. I like both of these aussie bowlers. Definitely would prefer them over the likes of Hastings etc. but then their training regime renders them useless for majority of the time.
 
Junaids said:
I'm an oldie but I'm a doctor too.

And my argument about both Pattinson and Cummins is:

1. Too much gym work bulking up their upper bodies and waist.
2. This makes it harder for them to generate pace through the momentum of their run up and "running through" their actions side on.
3. They then end up using brute force to generate speed, which puts extra stress on their spine, shins and knees.
4. They play too much limited overs and T20 cricket before they are 25. This makes them strain for pace and put extra stress on the areas listed above.
5. Trafitionally bowlers bowled in two First Class innings per week, a total of perhaps 55-60 overs. Much of that involved bowling at reduced pace with an old ball which they sought to seam or swing.
Click to expand...

Lol, you specialize in psychology, doc much?

None of these bowlers is bulked up to the extent that they would struggle running in.
Most of the work they do involves core and glute work, which only adds to your flexibility and strength to bowl fast for longer periods.

They just have 'confused' mechanics I.e they have mixed actions engrained into their long term memories.
When they are under pressure, all that remedial work on their actions gets lost and they end up repeating their past mistakes.




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Definitely do, otherwise no cricketer can clear 80/90 metres or bowl quick.

But, I think biggest problem with PAK players is their diet - most of them take too much oily food, sugar & red meat; which makes them strong but heavy as well. Besides most player is carrying few kg more because of oily food & their stamina is low - don't do the odd job, that is mother & father of all exercise - running & swimming.

Genetics, I don't think has anything to do in it - once PAK had some of the best ever squash players, a game which needs the highest amount of stamina, agility & flexibility; almost same is field hockey & volleyball. In fact, apart from fast bowlers, physical demand in cricket is less than most sports - interestingly, PAK has produced some of the fastest bowlers; it can't be genetics.

What current PAK players are missing is something Khan or Javed didn't - selfrespect & shame. Khan used to bat at 4 for Sussex, batting around 2000 overs in a summer, then he used to bowl fast for another 1000 overs in all formats. And almost equal numbers in nets - he could survive almost 20 years; so, it must not be genetics.

If Imran had the physique of Sarfraz or Umar or Sharjeel; I am afraid, watching himself in mirror, he would have committed suicide in shame - current PAK players 'dil khulker' smile after dropping a catch, as if it was a good joke.

Genetics doesn't have anything in that - you need to fill the pinch of inferiority complex that in your profession, you are 2nd class in a basic skill set; that day lots of those paratha, mithai, beef boti, mutton biriani, paya, bhuna kaliza 'll not enter through your throat.
 
Junaids said:
Fast bowlers are like aircraft: slower now than in the days of Concorde and the 747 forty years ago.
Click to expand...

Says who? The Airbus A380, the Boeing 787, the Airbus A330-300 (the 242t HGW version) and the Airbus A350 are faster than the 747 at a full payload.

The Concorde was an outlier and a dedicated supersonic aircraft, however.
 
They have to with all the chicken, beef they consume. Otherwise they'll become Inzamam version 2.0.
 
South Africans Kiwis and Aussies have genuinely fit players, since their teams play some real individual and team 'endurance' sport. All of them grow up playing football and rugby. Their primary goal is to get into them, however when they cannot get into their primary choice of sport they choose cricket. Their fitness is a plus point in their performance because those early years of hard work help do well in cricket. You can see B Mac catch the ball with amazing acrobatic skills like a goalie in soccer. They play rugby hence dont make excuses like Maqsood and Shan Masood to field at short leg.





Our fitness is also a reason our hockey team has deteriorated to quit a degree. Our players in hockey end up huffing and puffing at the end of 70 mins.
 
Junaids said:
I hope the fast bowlers don't do it much.

We've seen since Craig McDermott in 1985 that the more gym work quick bowlers do, the slower they get and they become too bulked up and lose the ability to get side-on and swing it away.

Fast bowlers are like aircraft: slower now than in the days of Concorde and the 747 forty years ago.

Good fast bowlers need to do lots of running, lots of bowling and as little gym work as possible.
Click to expand...

Strength + Flexibility = Bowling(Fast or spin). Cricketers don't work out on flexibility, players like Shane Watson, Symonds and Akhtar probably worked out on strength and conditioning. There is nothing wrong with working out, but flexibility of the players should also be taken into consideration. Just lifting weights and doing cardio won't work out. If you look at most of the bodybuilder cricketers, they are all or were injury prone. Look at 100mph MLB pitchers, they don't have six packs, but they all have/had strong strength but not necessarily six packs and pecs. I worked out last summer, i felt my leg spin bowling getting more stiff. I felt like my movements were limited.
 
Is just being in the gym and acting like you know what you're doing enough? What is the physio staff instructions?

Look at Kami bhai's footwear here for instance:

73485824.jpg
 
waleed88 said:
South Africans Kiwis and Aussies have genuinely fit players, since their teams play some real individual and team 'endurance' sport. All of them grow up playing football and rugby. Their primary goal is to get into them, however when they cannot get into their primary choice of sport they choose cricket. Their fitness is a plus point in their performance because those early years of hard work help do well in cricket. You can see B Mac catch the ball with amazing acrobatic skills like a goalie in soccer. They play rugby hence dont make excuses like Maqsood and Shan Masood to field at short leg.





Our fitness is also a reason our hockey team has deteriorated to quit a degree. Our players in hockey end up huffing and puffing at the end of 70 mins.
Click to expand...

Even then, they are only "cricket fit".
 
Genes play a huge part in your metabolism, which is why you will not see too many bulky athletes from the warmer climates. If a Pakistani or Indian was to bulk up / build muscles with strength training, it would require disproportionate amount of time in the gym. Add to that the general laziness and a a carbs-heavy diet, and you can see the results.

The reverse also works - a Pakistani / Indian can get a desirable body fat % (with discipline and diet) with much more ease.
 
Gotham Cronie said:
Is just being in the gym and acting like you know what you're doing enough? What is the physio staff instructions?

Look at Kami bhai's footwear here for instance:

View attachment 63581
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Not his fault. I think Akmals have general issues in regards to wearing suitable attire for an occasion.

Also Vunderful form by the guy doing pull downs.
Sent from pone
 
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Thivagar said:
Even then, they are only "cricket fit".
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Exactly. The standards of fitness required for cricket are much lower than other sports. Hence 'talunts' like Inzi even make the cut. It is good sport for us lazy Pakistanis, running on staple diet of rice dishes and tarkari walay salan. Players like Umar Akmal and Haris Sohail are given exceptional status, because of their ability, but we ignore the tummy on them for the sake of their performances.
 
waleed88 said:
Exactly. The standards of fitness required for cricket are much lower than other sports. Hence 'talunts' like Inzi even make the cut. It is good sport for us lazy Pakistanis, running on staple diet of rice dishes and tarkari walay salan. Players like Umar Akmal and Haris Sohail are given exceptional status, because of their ability, but we ignore the tummy on them for the sake of their performances.
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The sad part is that WI cricketers have physique of an average Carribean person. Since most of the cricket fans haven't seen people of the carribean, they think WI players are fit but they aren't lol. If the British didn't lose to the Americans, cricket will be played in US representing New York, LA and etc. We would definitely had bowlers bowling at 95mph consistently.
 
Depends on your definition of workout, if its lifting your hands to your mouth to shovel biryani/cakes & taking selfies then we're the most trained team in the world. Need more mental exercise though.
 
Junaids said:
I hope the fast bowlers don't do it much.

We've seen since Craig McDermott in 1985 that the more gym work quick bowlers do, the slower they get and they become too bulked up and lose the ability to get side-on and swing it away.

Fast bowlers are like aircraft: slower now than in the days of Concorde and the 747 forty years ago.

This was the thinking in 19th century, not now. Just ask any professional sportsman in developed countries, how much time then spend in Gym, both cardio and strength training. Particularly Fastmen. the biggest advantage and requirement of gym training is to prevent injuries.
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Ironcat said:
Genes play a huge part in your metabolism, which is why you will not see too many bulky athletes from the warmer climates. If a Pakistani or Indian was to bulk up / build muscles with strength training, it would require disproportionate amount of time in the gym. Add to that the general laziness and a a carbs-heavy diet, and you can see the results.

The reverse also works - a Pakistani / Indian can get a desirable body fat % (with discipline and diet) with much more ease.
Click to expand...

That's ironic, I remember Dr.Nauman telling Sarfaraz on his show is that the reason Pakistanis like him are chubby is cause they have a gene that is found in southwest Asians that make them gain fat easily...
 
Deosai said:
That's ironic, I remember Dr.Nauman telling Sarfaraz on his show is that the reason Pakistanis like him are chubby is cause they have a gene that is found in southwest Asians that make them gain fat easily...
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LOL, he just has to look at all those Bollywood "hulks" who can shred down to a six pack in just a few weeks.
 
Deosai said:
That's ironic, I remember Dr.Nauman telling Sarfaraz on his show is that the reason Pakistanis like him are chubby is cause they have a gene that is found in southwest Asians that make them gain fat easily...
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Yes. All fat uncles i know say the same thing. Has nothing to do with laziness and diet at all, just a bad gene.

Sent from pone
 
Fitness of Pakistani cricketers

Dunno if anyone else has noticed but I thought a number of Pakistani players looked like they could drop a few pounds. And not just Sharjeel Khan. Shehzad,Umar, Afridi,Sarfraz and even Sami seem to have bellies. Its disappointing to see this . Heck I think Misbah and YK are fitter than many of these guys. Do they have a diet plan that they adhere to and a strict workout routine or is it all parathas and lassis?

Thoughts?
 
These guys are often eating biryani a day before the match

Before the WI Pak WC match in NZ a day before the match they were eating at a fast food place and the day before that were having Karahi, biryani and korma type dishes at the house of some Pakistani expat.

Our players are under the impression that if they train hard it gives them the license to eat and drink whatever they want whereas top athletes not only train harder than them but also have specific diet plans and desi food is a big no no.

Many years ago I happened to have kuch at the cafeteria of our national cricket academy where the youngsters and when in a camp the senior team has lunch. The food is soooo oily
 
Slog said:
These guys are often eating biryani a day before the match

Before the WI Pak WC match in NZ a day before the match they were eating at a fast food place and the day before that were having Karahi, biryani and korma type dishes at the house of some Pakistani expat.

Our players are under the impression that if they train hard it gives them the license to eat and drink whatever they want whereas top athletes not only train harder than them but also have specific diet plans and desi food is a big no no.

Many years ago I happened to have kuch at the cafeteria of our national cricket academy where the youngsters and when in a camp the senior team has lunch. The food is soooo oily
Click to expand...

That's the thing though. Surely PCB can hire someone tell monitor the diet of the cricketers and ensure that they eat healthy and don't eat junk atleast while on tour?
 
Shehzad doesn't have a belly. Akmal does but the boy is jacked which allows him to hit big sixes. Hafeez also has a belly but has a decent amount of muscle.

Amir, Shehzad, and Rizwan are the fittest LOI prospects atm. Also I think Wahab is pretty fit too.
 
More of a fatness.

Akmal is not fit for a international sportsman, i dont know why people think that way. He is young hence he can push but as he grow older he will have stamina problems.

Look at 5-6 years old pics of Kohli and Akmal, Kohli from being fat became fit, and Akmal looks just the same. Nothing has changed in him.
 
BabarAkmal_Fan said:
Shehzad doesn't have a belly. Akmal does but the boy is jacked which allows him to hit big sixes. Hafeez also has a belly but has a decent amount of muscle.

Amir, Shehzad, and Rizwan are the fittest LOI prospects atm. Also I think Wahab is pretty fit too.
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Malik too.
 
My experience, when you are under stress, you tend to emotionally over eat to cope.
 
There is quite an effort on fitness these days by PCB. They are not fit but our coaches are working on them and will improve gradually. Sarfraz looks more leaner so the results are there.
 
Australian, Kiwis, SA cricketers do tremendous work out. Indian players watching and training with such players in IPL must have helped and inspired them.
 
But I thought that Waqar was over-doing the fitness work...

TBH the whole work on fitness won't do much until there is an improvement in dietary habits, which is the correct long-term solution which is utilised by pretty much all athletes.
 
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shah_1 said:
There is quite an effort on fitness these days by PCB. They are not fit but our coaches are working on them and will improve gradually. Sarfraz looks more leaner so the results are there.
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Are you sure that PCB Coaches do posses the professional expertise on sports diet/physiology? I mean, everything doesn't work in Larke Lenge style - I hear PAK players are worked like hounds & then they struggle to keep stamina in a T20 innings.

Sports dietacian is a profession these days - like University of Toronto gives 18 months Masters certification on that. WY has a PHD in that - from his ability to bowl 150KM+ thunderbolts, 25 years back.............
 
AlphaFighter said:
My experience, when you are under stress, you tend to emotionally over eat to cope.
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But, but, they are playing under an Aggressive Captain, to whom, stress never even dare to come close ......
 
Fittest: Amir, shehzad and Wahab

Fit: Hafeez, Umar, Afridi, Shoaib,

Bewlow average fitness: Sarfaraz, Sami, Irfan,

The worst: Sharjeel.
 
Pace90 said:
Fittest: Amir, shehzad and Wahab

Fit: Hafeez, Umar, Afridi, Shoaib,

Bewlow average fitness: Sarfaraz, Sami, Irfan,

The worst: Sharjeel.
Click to expand...

You are sadly mistaken if you think Afridi is fit. He is way past it fitness wise. Reflexes are way too slow for international cricket. IMO, Pakistan has deeper problems than fitness.
 
The only liability in the field is Irfan. The rest move well including Sharjeel regardless of their body fat percentage.
 
Not sure about our cricketers but check out this picture of South African debutante, Pieter Malan

Malan-696x456.jpg
 
And Chris Tremlett also

Capture.JPG
 
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jnaveen1980 said:
Sure they do

View attachment 98180

I can never forget this Akram quote :))

"Champions don't eat biriyani"
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It’s about skill in cricket honestly cricket isn’t a fitness based game idk why I have to do this in every thread. Rohit Sharma is not as fit as kohli but he is a better fielder than him in the outfield catching wise. Kohli might look very agile and quick on his feet and getting to the ball but he drops way too many soft chances tons of times. Also being jacked in cricket is of no use to be honest unless you have the skill to pack it up. With faf being one of the most jacked guys I’ve seen play in recent times and he is the fittest of the lot but skill wise he is a very average player. Being jacked will help you hit big sixes but if you don’t know how to hit them and just slog blindly like jacked hacks do like Chris Lynn you won’t really be affective in international cricket. Guys like Chris Lynn come off good once in 10 innings. So what is the point of all his fitness. Cricket is a purely skilled based game fitness has to do very little with how good a player in general is in terms of bowling or batting because runnning between the wickets isn’t the only thing that defines you as a batsman.
 
They do so in the kitchen and dining table:inzi2 I see Afridi is always eating!
 
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