Is too much emphasis on fitness leading to a decline in cricketing skills for the Pakistan team?

[Sher Khan]

It seems like the coaches know only one thing: carrying out fitness tests on players. It’s something when a player like Imad wasim- who was the lowest performing in the fitness tests is currently our best player in terms of cricketing skills.

Physical fitness is important don’t get me wrong. But never over skills. Duds like Faheem and Junaid are preferred for their fitness over players like sohail khan. Sohail can rock any team with the new as well as the old ball.

But that’s not the point, the point is if players like Hassan Ali have become even fitter than Kohli then why are they not improving in their stamina and bowling skills? Why are batsmen like Fakhar not playing long innings?

In my view, these players have become too obsessed with impressing the coach in the gym rather than on the field.

 

[Tyler Durden]

It has nothing to do with fitness! Pakistani players are very limited when it comes to skillset and they're definitely not as good as you guys on this forum make them out to be! They are just an average bunch!

 

[badsha001]

It seems like the coaches know only one thing: carrying out fitness tests on players. It’s something when a player like Imad wasim- who was the lowest performing in the fitness tests is currently our best player in terms of cricketing skills.

Physical fitness is important don’t get me wrong. But never over skills. Duds like Faheem and Junaid are preferred for their fitness over players like sohail khan. Sohail can rock any team with the new as well as the old ball.

But that’s not the point, the point is if players like Hassan Ali have become even fitter than Kohli then why are they not improving in their stamina and bowling skills? Why are batsmen like Fakhar not playing long innings?

In my view, these players have become too obsessed with impressing the coach in the gym rather than on the field.

so what's stopping Sohail Khan to go to gym and pass the fitness test?

 

[Sher Khan]

so what's stopping Sohail Khan to go to gym and pass the fitness test?

Sohail is naturally very well built and strong. For example, during a training session, Pakistani players were playing tug of war. Their were 8 players on one side and six on the other. Sohail joined the six group from behind and they won. He has brute strength. But we can’t change his body structure.

 

[waleed88]

the excuse old b's like akmal and farhat used to give. A ridiculous excuse in this day and age.

 

[MenInG]

Misbah speaking to the media on the subject of fitness

"The internationally required standards of fitness aren't hidden. Our team has a lot of room for improvement and there has also been improvement already. We want to work hard in these 3 weeks so that the players are carrying good fitness into the season. But to attain those levels, I will try my utmost to get players to make fitness into a habit and a lifestyle, so that fitness problems don't come up again"

"In this camp for the first 2 days, it's not just the training but we're looking at the sleeping habits, food, calories, body weight and fat level. I will try to get us to go towards the ideal fitness levels"

"The approach towards fitness is simple, you have to be very professional. You can't compromise on your discipline as a player and that is my approach. Whatever we're doing and the perimeters we're setting need to be followed. Once it becomes a habit, you don't even think about it. Training and food habits need to become a lifestyle"

"There is a misconception amongst the players about this as well. This camp is just to ready some players so that the management and selection committee has data about the players. But the team of 15 won't necessarily be from these players. Any player in domestic cricket who is performing and has good fitness can be selected. We could have picked a lot of players for this camp but we couldn't accomodate more"

"Even when I was playing cricket with SNGPL, Islamabad United or Peshawar Zalmi, specially with SNGPL, for the past 7-8 years I have been playing with players but also guiding or coaching them which I have enjoyed. Once you're captain then you get an idea of quite a lot of things. Your thinking changes once you're not playing because you can solely focus on all the other players"

"A time comes where you need to look towards new players so after retirements of bowlers, we need to look at those who are performing and have good fitness levels. There's a lot of young fast-bowlers. We will keep an eye on them and see which ones can serve Pakistan in the long format in future"

 

[Stewie]

As if the emphasis has yielded positive results!

 

[Major]

"In this camp for the first 2 days, it's not just the training but we're looking at the sleeping habits, food, calories, body weight and fat level.

I was watching some fitness videos from USA the other day, and those trainers mentioned two things that really matter Your eating behavior, you timing for eating and your sleeping habits. THese are very important indeed.

And fitness does matter in cricket. Its easy hitting shots all around the park, but standing on the wicket is very diffucult. Lara type innings were only possible because of his fitness.

 

[Markhor]

Misbah speaking to the media on the subject of fitness

"The internationally required standards of fitness aren't hidden. Our team has a lot of room for improvement and there has also been improvement already. We want to work hard in these 3 weeks so that the players are carrying good fitness into the season. But to attain those levels, I will try my utmost to get players to make fitness into a habit and a lifestyle, so that fitness problems don't come up again"

"In this camp for the first 2 days, it's not just the training but we're looking at the sleeping habits, food, calories, body weight and fat level. I will try to get us to go towards the ideal fitness levels"

"The approach towards fitness is simple, you have to be very professional. You can't compromise on your discipline as a player and that is my approach. Whatever we're doing and the perimeters we're setting need to be followed. Once it becomes a habit, you don't even think about it. Training and food habits need to become a lifestyle"

"There is a misconception amongst the players about this as well. This camp is just to ready some players so that the management and selection committee has data about the players. But the team of 15 won't necessarily be from these players. Any player in domestic cricket who is performing and has good fitness can be selected. We could have picked a lot of players for this camp but we couldn't accomodate more"

"Even when I was playing cricket with SNGPL, Islamabad United or Peshawar Zalmi, specially with SNGPL, for the past 7-8 years I have been playing with players but also guiding or coaching them which I have enjoyed. Once you're captain then you get an idea of quite a lot of things. Your thinking changes once you're not playing because you can solely focus on all the other players"

"A time comes where you need to look towards new players so after retirements of bowlers, we need to look at those who are performing and have good fitness levels. There's a lot of young fast-bowlers. We will keep an eye on them and see which ones can serve Pakistan in the long format in future"

Perfectly said, don't think there's anything to add.

 

[Savak]

Fitness and Nutrition is an individual players responsibility. No one holds a gun to Kohlis head forcing him to work out like mad and to work harder on his game at the same time as well.

 

[Saj]

It's worrying that quite a few of the current players look so unfit despite all this chat about fitness standards.

How do they actually pass the fitness tests?

 

[ManFan]

It's worrying that quite a few of the current players look so unfit despite all this chat about fitness standards.

How do they actually pass the fitness tests?

Do what Saeed Anwar did; “befriend” the team doctor.

 

[Danyaalr01]

If you have good fitness you can play longer innings, bowl longer spells and be a more useful fielder to the team. Sohail Khan or Muhammad Irfan would never be able to bowl a 9 over spell at full pace.

Also it's just bad advertising for the game. You don't have to be overweight to be powerful, just look at Chris Gayle (pre injury) and Jos Buttler. Not only can they hit big, but they can also play long innings.

 

[MenInG]

Fitness was never an issue in old teams but nowadays that is a given - so even talking about it as its some new thing seems odd!

 

[Titan24]

It has nothing to do with fitness! Pakistani players are very limited when it comes to skillset and they're definitely not as good as you guys on this forum make them out to be! They are just an average bunch!

Good enough to lift CT 17 and then beat winners and finalists of CWC 19 and at the same team mediocre enough to be really inconsistent. So its not like they dont have the skill at all, its the temperament, attitude and most importantly fitness to maintain the intensity game after game and over after over.

 

[saeed5646]

Fitness is very important but at the same time Pakistan cricketers play way to many less cricket .As much the emphasis on fitness players should be given tough and busy schedule in domestic to improve their skills. Fitness shouldn't be lone solution to all the problems

 

[Saj]

Do what Saeed Anwar did; “befriend” the team doctor.

It's well-known that over the years some players have passed fitness tests after some 'questionable' results collated at the NCA.

 

[Boi]

The greater the emphasis the better.

The best way to weed out the TTFs from the system is by having standardised fitness tests for all domestic players to pass. The likes of Umar, Kamran and old trundlers will then won’t make the cut.

 

[Hasan123]

In most countries being fit is a given. In Pakistan it’s something which is debated and frowned upon. It should not be a beyond a professional athlete to keep himself in shape.