Rizwan tops fitness test with score of 21, Shafiq 20, Fawad 19, Hasan/Fakhar/Babar 18, Sarfaraz 17.4

[MenInG]

Out-of-favour cricketer Fawad Alam on Tuesday scored an impressive 19 in the Yo-Yo Endurance Test, proving to the selectors that even at the age of 32 he has plenty left in the tank.

With the national Test squad for the upcoming twin tour of England and Ireland to be announced in the next few days, fitness tests of several players were conducted at the National Cricket Academy today.

Alam has been frozen out of the national fold for the past few years despite his astronomical numbers in the domestic game; he last played for Pakistan in 2015.

On Monday, he underwent a rigorous fitness test, putting to bed another reason for the selectors to keep him out of the side.

For comparisons, captain Sarfraz Ahmed scored 17.4 in the same fitness test, whereas his 25-year-old understudy Muhammad Rizwan topped with a score of 21; Asad Shafiq, with 20, had the second-highest score.

Hasan Ali, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman — all much younger cricketers than Alam — scored 18 points each.

Alam, during the last domestic season, scored 570 runs in 10 first-class matches at an average of 40.71 and strike rate of 63.12.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1400760/fawad-alams-fitness-score-puts-younger-cricketers-to-shame

 

[sully3]

embarrassing stuff from Sarfraz he barely passes the test each time.

And the fact that Muhammed Rizwan is 5x times fitter then him shows who really is the best keeper in Pakistan cricket at the moment

 

[Slog]

embarrassing stuff from Sarfraz he barely passes the test each time.

Agreed

And the fact that Muhammed Rizwan is 5x times fitter then him shows who really is the best keeper in Pakistan cricket at the moment

that's a fairly stupid statement

 

[angrypathan]

embarrassing stuff from Sarfraz he barely passes the test each time.

And the fact that Muhammed Rizwan is 5x times fitter then him shows who really is the best keeper in Pakistan cricket at the moment

Considering how overweight Sarfraz looks to the eye, I'm rather impressed he got a score so close to an ex Navy person like Fakhar. But nevertheless disappointing, the captain should be leading from the front in all aspects, including fitness.

Also, it's been grossly obviously since the Australia tour that Rizwan is the better keeper, the problem is his batting is worse than Yasir Shah

 

[sully3]

Agreed


that's a fairly stupid statement

I remember even [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] saying before Sarfraz got the captaincy full time that Rizwan really is the best keeper in Pakistan and Sarfraz will have his work cut out to keep his place in the team.

But i do agree Sarfraz batting wise is alot better then Rizwan and obviously a better captain. But as a pure keeper Rizwan is flawless.

 

[ads101]

Kind of impressed Sarfraz only scored 0.6 under Fakhar, Babar, Hasan lol.

According to https://www.topendsports.com/testing/norms/yo-yo.htm

Sarfraz places in the "good range" (as does Fakhar etc.). Which surprises me I thought Sarfraz would be average or worse lol.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

It depends on the role on the team. A fast bowler would need a higher than say a wicket keeper batter. As long as everyone is in the good range.

 

[Mercurial]

That's why I want Rizwan to replace Sarfraz.

 

[OmaIR1]

I remember seeing Sarfraz in the PSL and couldn't help but notice his belly. Is it really that difficult to remain fit for a paid athlete?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

People have rose tinted glasses.

Rizwan picked up keep late in his development and it showed. While he improved since his debut he had plenty of fluffing behind the stumps

 

[rhony]

I remember seeing Sarfraz in the PSL and couldn't help but notice his belly. Is it really that difficult to remain fit for a paid athlete?

He's a WK and squats hundreds of times a day. He probably does decent workouts too. But unless there is a diet control, that belly ain't going away soon

 

[Abdul]

This is light work.

 

[dhonixi]

Asad has 20?? Unbelievable. How does these tests work. Asad is not more fit than Hasan, Babar. On what metrics do these tests judge?

 

[ExplicitAI]

Sarfraz surprises people a lot, no one rated him back in 2012 and he ended up lifting an ICC trophy 5 years later.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Sarfraz surprises people a lot, no one rated him back in 2012 and he ended up lifting an ICC trophy 5 years later.

they will find a reason to complain.

There are plenty of valid critisims but people go over the top.

I remember when Sarfraz first became a fixture in the team, a lot of the people who go over the top in regards to his behaviour as captain, would be the asme people who used to critise him for being too timid when he wasnt captain.

You can never win with such people

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

embarrassing stuff from Sarfraz he barely passes the test each time.

And the fact that Muhammed Rizwan is 5x times fitter then him shows who really is the best keeper in Pakistan cricket at the moment

Agreed

He didnt barely pass, he got a good, so a B essentially.

Can do better of course and we are right to demand it but don't sensationalise things to fit your narrative

 

[Abdul]

Azhar Ali didn't take part in this fitness test?

 

[Slog]

Rizwan is a Kamran Akmal level keeper. Maybe worse as he isn't clean with byes et

 

[DeadBall]

Seems like both the shorter stature players have got the best scores.

 

[shane]

It is one of the greatest travesties of Pakistan cricket that Fawad Alam has not played more international cricket. In any other country in the world he would have been one of international cricket's best players by now.

 

[sully3]

He didnt barely pass, he got a good, so a B essentially.

Can do better of course and we are right to demand it but don't sensationalise things to fit your narrative

Yasir failed at 14.2 last year.

Sarfraz managed just 2 more sprints then the fail level of 14.2 so giving a B grade is laughable. More like E or D grade.

Above 20 sprints should get A grade
17-19 B grade
15-16 C grade
14-15 is your D or E grade depending and this is where Sarfraz is coming.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Yasir failed at 14.2 last year.

Sarfraz managed just 2 more sprints then the fail level of 14.2 so giving a B grade is laughable. More like E or D grade.

Above 20 sprints should get A grade
17-19 B grade
15-16 C grade
14-15 is your D or E grade depending and this is where Sarfraz is coming.

Have you read the op?

It says Sarfraz got 17.4, so by your own standard a B. Am I missing something or does you narrative prevent you from seeing that?

 

[Ahson8]

Rizwan is a Kamran Akmal level keeper. Maybe worse as he isn't clean with byes et

Are you serious ? He was flawless in the Australia ODIs where he was keeping due to Sarfraz's unavailability (didn't drop a single catch or miss a single stumping in 5 games), and he was very good for Karachi Kings in recent PSL as well

 

[ads101]

Have you read the op?

It says Sarfraz got 17.4, so by your own standard a B. Am I missing something or does you narrative prevent you from seeing that?

Sully makes entirely no sense )

The funny thing is given that Sarfraz is fat, you'd think if he wasn't fat he'd probably score better than our younger guys like Babar, Hasan, even Fakhar. Kind of shows what a waste lol.

I do think Sarfraz isn't fit enough for an athlete, but honestly feel he's a country mile above the fitness of guys like Khalid, Umar Akmal, Sharjeel etc. Those guys are seriously unfit even by average person standard. If anything I'm kind of diappointed our other guys aren't ahead more than Sarfraz, and perhaps a reason why to why Sarfraz thinks he can get away with being overweight.

 

[sshakir411]

You can have a belly and still have stamina ...Sarfraz has been above satisfactory in these fitness tests since Mickey started them.

 

[Slog]

Are you serious ? He was flawless in the Australia ODIs where he was keeping due to Sarfraz's unavailability (didn't drop a single catch or miss a single stumping in 5 games), and he was very good for Karachi Kings in recent PSL as well

He doesn't make howlers (so Kamran Akmal comparison maybe a bit harsh). But he most certainly isn't a clean keeper. Neither is Sarfaraz but he has improved a lot recently

However Rizwan certainly comes across as zabardasti ka keeper

Our best keeper in the last decade was probably Adnan Akmal

 

[finalfantasy7]

You can have a belly and still have stamina ...Sarfraz has been above satisfactory in these fitness tests since Mickey started them.

correct, look at wayne rooney in football.

im surprised about hasan ali not leading this - i thought he was the fittest,

ex players like waqar akram holding - keep stating bowlers must learn how to run - its everything for the bowlers, as this was a running test - surprised not seeing more bowlers

 

[boomboom6]

It is one of the greatest travesties of Pakistan cricket that Fawad Alam has not played more international cricket. In any other country in the world he would have been one of international cricket's best players by now.

Indeed ... really hoping he gets selected in the squad and is in playing XI as he is the most deserving of any batsman to be picked!

 

[Poutine]

Yasir failed at 14.2 last year.

Sarfraz managed just 2 more sprints then the fail level of 14.2 so giving a B grade is laughable. More like E or D grade.

Above 20 sprints should get A grade
17-19 B grade
15-16 C grade
14-15 is your D or E grade depending and this is where Sarfraz is coming.

Ah, you might want to read the OP and your own post again.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Sully makes entirely no sense )

Ah, you might want to read the OP and your own post again.

the silence is deafening

Sometimes people see what they want to see

 

[ads101]

correct, look at wayne rooney in football.

im surprised about hasan ali not leading this - i thought he was the fittest,

ex players like waqar akram holding - keep stating bowlers must learn how to run - its everything for the bowlers, as this was a running test - surprised not seeing more bowlers

I think Sarfraz has upped his fitness a bit lately. I remember he was struggling to run doubles at one point, so I don't think he's always been at good fitness.

Sarfraz when he entered the scene was pretty quick between wickets. One of his strengths was strike rotation. Still is, which is why it hurts him a lot if he isn't fit enough to run singles as he doesn't rely on a power game as much (even then he can give it a good tonk now and again).

 

[Hawkeye]

I remember even [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] saying before Sarfraz got the captaincy full time that Rizwan really is the best keeper in Pakistan and Sarfraz will have his work cut out to keep his place in the team.

But i do agree Sarfraz batting wise is alot better then Rizwan and obviously a better captain. But as a pure keeper Rizwan is flawless.

People have rose tinted glasses.

Rizwan picked up keep late in his development and it showed. While he improved since his debut he had plenty of fluffing behind the stumps

Rizwan isn't even a keeper if you watch him 'try' and keep.

Really just an imposter.

He's worse than Sarfraz and that says a lot. Sarfraz isn't good by intl standards.

 

[finalfantasy7]

I think Sarfraz has upped his fitness a bit lately. I remember he was struggling to run doubles at one point, so I don't think he's always been at good fitness.

Sarfraz when he entered the scene was pretty quick between wickets. One of his strengths was strike rotation. Still is, which is why it hurts him a lot if he isn't fit enough to run singles as he doesn't rely on a power game as much (even then he can give it a good tonk now and again).

it doesn't matter - a athlete who isn't injured shouldn't have fat on the body, you dont have to look like a middle weigh boxer - i play tennis twice a week and badminton once, - i dont have fat on my belly or anywhere on my body.

i have more of a swimmers body on me - so im not big muscle and yet i dont even go gym at all - for me its been like 7 years since last time

 

[backfootpunch]

Rizwan isn't even a keeper if you watch him 'try' and keep.

Really just an imposter.

He's worse than Sarfraz and that says a lot. Sarfraz isn't good by intl standards.

Did you see Rizwan in the Aus series just over a year ago? He's way ahead of Sarfraz.

 

[backfootpunch]

Wonder what Mickey Arthur would score

 

[babajee]

Rizwan isn't even a keeper if you watch him 'try' and keep.

Really just an imposter.

He's worse than Sarfraz and that says a lot. Sarfraz isn't good by intl standards.

Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal are ATG wicketkeepers

 

[hitthestump]

Wonder what Mickey Arthur would score

Would love to see a comparison to the current Saffa/Aussie sides.

 

[Saj]

What was Umar Akmal's score?

Asking for a friend.

 

[Asch Ali]

Didn’t Rizwan bag a golden duck on Test debut? But he still is the best keeper of Pakistan. Miles ahead of Sarfraz, Akmals, and Babar Azam.

 

[Hawkeye]

Did you see Rizwan in the Aus series just over a year ago? He's way ahead of Sarfraz.

No, he's not.

Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal are ATG wicketkeepers

No, they're not.

 

[Napa]

It is one of the greatest travesties of Pakistan cricket that Fawad Alam has not played more international cricket. In any other country in the world he would have been one of international cricket's best players by now.

He has a total of 250 runs from 6 innings with 168 of them coming from one innings. That means he average 16.4 from the remaining 5 innings. Sort of like Karun Nair who has 303 of his total 374 runs from one innings and can't find a place in the Indian team. However, Pakistan doesn't quite have the batting wealth that India does, and Alam definitely should have been given many more chances.

 

[backfootpunch]

No, he's not.



No, they're not.

In keeping no way is Sarfraz better than Rizwan. The latter has better reflexes and a lot more agile. He's better at keeping against spin and taking his catches - Aus ODI series exemplifies this as well.

 

[Asch Ali]

People who say Rizwan’s keeping is bad (it is not, he’s the best keeper Pakistan ever created), watch this. Watch his amazing fielding? Can Sarfraz ever do this?

 

[HuzaifaE]

I remember even [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION]
But i do agree Sarfraz batting wise is alot better then Rizwan and obviously a better captain. But as a pure keeper Rizwan is flawless.

Do we watch the same Rizwan? Rizwan is incredibly athletic, and world class in the field, but average as a keeper - has missed stumpings and dropped catches so unless he's improved magically very recently, that's a pretty hilarious statement. It's like saying Shan Masood is fit, he's practically Viv Richards.

 

[MMHS]

I can recall a story from long back, long long back when sprint timings were recorded manually.
So, one day a sprinter runs to his coach, excited ...

- Coach, coach ... do you know, what I have done just now?
- What, failed dope test !!!!
- No, no, I have broken the national 100 metres record. Whom should I call coach - I need to tell this.
- Your watchmaker son, you need to tell him to fix your stop watch....

Some of the scores in this Yo-Yo test brought that story from memory....

 

[Hawkeye]

In keeping no way is Sarfraz better than Rizwan. The latter has better reflexes and a lot more agile. He's better at keeping against spin and taking his catches - Aus ODI series exemplifies this as well.

No, he's a poor keeper.

Being athletic and good in the field doesn't mean you're a good keeper. He's a very good fielder, yes. You and others like [MENTION=146865]Asch Ali[/MENTION] are confusing his fielding with keeping.

Do we watch the same Rizwan? Rizwan is incredibly athletic, and world class in the field, but average as a keeper - has missed stumpings and dropped catches so unless he's improved magically very recently, that's a pretty hilarious statement. It's like saying Shan Masood is fit, he's practically Viv Richards.

Correct.

Rizwan is as bad as you can get when it comes to wicket keeping. Dare I say even Umar was better as a makeshift.

 

[Asch Ali]

[MENTION=146865]Asch Ali[/MENTION] are confusing his fielding with keeping.

I’m saying to the people who believe that
Rizwan is a bad keeper that he can field pretty well too (unlike Sarfraz).

He’s an excellent keeper as well, watch his catches.

 

[Syed1]

No, he's a poor keeper.

Being athletic and good in the field doesn't mean you're a good keeper. He's a very good fielder, yes. You and others like [MENTION=146865]Asch Ali[/MENTION] are confusing his fielding with keeping.




Correct.

Rizwan is as bad as you can get when it comes to wicket keeping. Dare I say even Umar was better as a makeshift.

Dare I say kya matlab you have been itching to say that since the thread started..

 

[Usman Chadda]

Yasir failed at 14.2 last year.

Sarfraz managed just 2 more sprints then the fail level of 14.2 so giving a B grade is laughable. More like E or D grade.

Above 20 sprints should get A grade
17-19 B grade
15-16 C grade
14-15 is your D or E grade depending and this is where Sarfraz is coming.

Sarfraz got a 17.4.

 

[Hawkeye]

Dare I say kya matlab you have been itching to say that since the thread started..

Why would I not say it right away in that case?

You should be happy I'm defending your boy Sarf where it's applicable.

 

[silent ischemia]

Agreed


that's a fairly stupid statement

He is right mate. Rizwan is a better keeper than Sarfraz without a shadow of a doubt

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

These scores are just one facet of the player's overall cricketing ability. A score of 20 doesn't mean much if you don't get to make the final 15 which is the case for Rizwan.

As long as you are fit per the standards set by the PCB and management, and fulfill the minimum fitness criteria then I don't see what the issue is.

 

[Fast Bowler]

I honestly don’t get the obsession with Rizwan.

You know what, I agree that Sarfraz needs to be fitter and improve his keeping. Having said so, Rizwan is super mediocre. I remember watching him bat and it seemed he had never batted before. I don’t even understand why they keep him in the squad. Sarfraz is by no means perfect or the best Pakistani keeper ever but we seriously need a better alternative than rizwan.

 

[Belawal2014]

Until he learns to play legspin, keep him out of the team. He doesn't seem to learn..

 

[FreakCricket]

rizwan batting is of chris martin need to fix foot movement, very agile keeper though but fails to collect leg byes

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Rizwan has always been extremely fit. If he was a better batsman then could've easily replaced Sarfraz behind the stumps.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Rizwan is diabolical as a wk and batter.

 

[Vildoc]

Would love to see a comparison to the current Saffa/Aussie sides.

The Aussies avearge around 21. The Indians have a cut off of 19.5 which was the reason players like Yuvraj and Sunil Raina were dropped. Kohli's score was 21. Apparently Manish Pandey outscores Kohli!

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

People who say Rizwan’s keeping is bad (it is not, he’s the best keeper Pakistan ever created), watch this. Watch his amazing fielding? Can Sarfraz ever do this?

so let me get this straight

In order to prove how good of a wicketkeeper Rizwan is, you are showing videos of his oufielding?

By that logic Johnty Rhodes is the greatest wicketkeeper of all time

 

[UN talkz]

The Aussies avearge around 21. The Indians have a cut off of 19.5 which was the reason players like Yuvraj and Sunil Raina were dropped. Kohli's score was 21. Apparently Manish Pandey outscores Kohli!

16.5 not 19.5

 

[MMHS]

The fact is both Rizwan & Sarfu are poor WK. Rizwan kept in AUS, that too in ODI, which is among the easiest jobs in WKeeping because ball comes there at true, even height and the it doesn’t swing much, with hardly any seem, spin. Any WK will look far better in AUS ODI, which are these days 300+ run feast (means Rizwan’s job was closer to baseball’s 1st baseman than a cricket WK).

May not be from this tour, but from ZIM Leg PAK should (read must) pick one of the 2 young keepers, preferably Masood. I think 5 T20s in 8 days then 5 ODIs in 12/13 is going to be tough on Sarfraz and after that it’s almost non stop cricket till WC, excluding PLs & SLs - in ZIM, Sarfraz should play as specialist bat at 4 & a young WK should keep. At this age, Sarfraz is not going to learn/improve much, rather resting his back, hamstring & calf would be better use of ZIM tour.

 

[Ahson8]

The fact is both Rizwan & Sarfu are poor WK. Rizwan kept in AUS, that too in ODI, which is among the easiest jobs in WKeeping because ball comes there at true, even height and the it doesn’t swing much, with hardly any seem, spin.

But Rizwan was solid in the PSL too. He really kept well for the Kings despite having an injury

 

[MMHS]

But Rizwan was solid in the PSL too. He really kept well for the Kings despite having an injury

That’s T20 - how many balls/edges come to WK? WK’s Real Test is on spinning tracks or swinging condition. You are comparing him with Sarfraz, hence looks better, but compare with any WK from top 12 other sides, these two will come better than Shahzad only, or may be the last Aussie WK, picked for batting. Even that Irish WK is a world class WK and among best.

On top of that, Rizwan batted like No. 10 in AUS and in PSL also I can’t recall his batting much (haven’t seen much either, might have missed). Sarfraz is Captain, therefore has to be there - PAK should look to replace Rizwan with a young keeper as back up.

 

[WengerOut]

16.5 not 19.5

True. Just to accommodate Ashwin

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

What's interesting is that Kohli and Rizwan scored similarly in the yo-yo test. Knew Rizwan was extremely fit and athletic but didn't think he'd be as fit as Kohli, atleast in terms of the yo-yo test.

 

[WengerOut]

What's interesting is that Kohli and Rizwan scored similarly in the yo-yo test. Knew Rizwan was extremely fit and athletic but didn't think he'd be as fit as Kohli, atleast in terms of the yo-yo test.

Manish Pandey is the fittest guy in Indian team. Kohli is naturally not that fit. He hardworked into it. Manish and Dhoni for that matter are natural athletes. Same with Rizwan i guess and maybe Shadab.

 

[carbon11]

Azhar Ali didn't take part in this fitness test?

Not surprised in England when that press up trend was going on by the Pakistan team

Azhar hit a century and laboured his way to 10 press ups

 

[Markhor]

It's a shame Rizwan's fitness isn't as good as his diabolical batting.

 

[Vildoc]

16.5 not 19.5

No it’s 19.5.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...iled-yo-yo-endurance-test-at-the-nca-4799700/

 

[TeamPak95]

Saifi proving Biryani don't lie

 

[Hasan123]

Rizwan fitness levels are amazing. Shafiq also did well. Sarfraz needs to improve. Having such poor fitness levels doesn't set a good example for current players and future generations. Younger players will think having such fitness levels are acceptable.

 

[GrandMaster]

Minimum score required to pass the Yoyo test for the Men in Blue is 19.5.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...iled-yo-yo-endurance-test-at-the-nca-4799700/

 

[WengerOut]

Minimum score required to pass the Yoyo test for the Men in Blue is 19.5.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...iled-yo-yo-endurance-test-at-the-nca-4799700/

No. It is 16. Or else how would you accommodate Ashwin!!

 

[reversehook]

sarfraz prob did a yoyo test between nihari and biryani to score a 17 with that belly...

 

[Saj]

Mickey Arthur and his coaching staff have increased the pass number for the bleep tests. Previously it was much lower.

Pakistan's pass number for the bleep tests still aren't as tough as Australia etc but they are tougher than what they used to be.

 

[GrandMaster]

No. It is 16. Or else how would you accommodate Ashwin!!

Extract from the article

However, both Yuvraj and Raina have scored well below the permissible level of 19.5 with Yuvraj barely managing to touch 16, which was the biggest reason for his ouster.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Rizwan is a much improved keeper. A lot of nonsense from people who haven't followed his progress.

 

[Abdul]

Rizwan is a much improved keeper. A lot of nonsense from people who haven't followed his progress.

What about his batting?

 

[msb314]

Mickey Arthur and his coaching staff have increased the pass number for the bleep tests. Previously it was much lower.

Pakistan's pass number for the bleep tests still aren't as tough as Australia etc but they are tougher than what they used to be.

What is he cutoff now?

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

What is he cutoff now?

I think it's 16