Why are Pakistani players below par when it comes to fitness?

[Citizen4]

Why? Why are they not fit enough after loads of training? Why are unfit playes selected? Umar Akmal pot belly guy selected again and again despite failing? Hafeez weak knees guys again selected after failing in PSL? Fast bowlers have become weak as menioned by Mickey, Sohail is not fit for test cricket. Amir got exhausted after playing continuesly? It only started after his marriage that he started to get tired in every match, before that he was fine.

 

[Rayyman]

According to Wasim Akram, they are too poor to afford healthy foods. (Obviously not the case with Mohammad Amir)

It only started after his marriage that he started to get tired in every match, before that he was fine."

LOL maybe their wives are making them too much oily biryani.

Instead of wasting the precious money, PCB officials need to work on diet and nutrition of Pakistani cricketers. Maybe by appointing professional fitness gurus. 10 fitness camps annually won't cut it if the boys are munching on tikka roti twice a week.

 

[Citizen4]

According to Wasim Akram, they are too poor to afford healthy foods. (Obviously not the case with Mohammad Amir)

It only started after his marriage that he started to get tired in every match, before that he was fine."

LOL maybe their wives are making them too much oily biryani.

Instead of wasting the precious money, PCB officials need to work on diet and nutrition of Pakistani cricketers. Maybe by appointing professional fitness gurus. 10 fitness camps annually won't cut it if the boys are munching on tikka roti twice a week.

during the matches, they eat chicken karahi and korma a lot, biryani as well, so oily fingers make them drop catches too

My suggestion :

Hire a Pakistani fitness coach, and make them eat the right food, anyone who disobeys will get chitroll from the Pakistani master trainer.
Must do harsh excercise twice a day.
Everyone will get in shaope in a month.

 

[Adil_94]

Lack of professionalism in the cricket culture and structure. Thinking that u can eat biryani kebabs n karahi n you can get away with it if u have talent. If we had a properly funded domestic structure with fitness coaches and nutritionists for domestic teams and properly paid players who could afford to eat healthy then we would see a change in our fitness levels. If we get a more professional structure then this will improve.

 

[Citizen4]

Lack of professionalism in the cricket culture and structure. Thinking that u can eat biryani kebabs n karahi n you can get away with it if u have talent. If we had a properly funded domestic structure with fitness coaches and nutritionists for domestic teams and properly paid players who could afford to eat healthy then we would see a change in our fitness levels. If we get a more professional structure then this will improve.

but the guys already in the team can afford any food, they have the staff to guide them, still not fit enough?
Very disapointing stuff.
Should work hard

 

[Citizen4]

My request to Pakistani national team players, if you are reading this;
please get your fitness level right, don't eat junk food and desi oily food, and don't bring wives on tour with you, that's another reason for low fitness and energy.

 

[rhony]

It's the money. If I dangle a 100 thousand dollars in front of you, you will start running and climbing like a spider monkey. Almost every top international team pays a lot of money to their players and there are conditions associated with it. Being fit is one of the most basic requirements for a sportsman

 

[Citizen4]

It's the money. If I dangle a 100 thousand dollars in front of you, you will start running and climbing like a spider monkey. Almost every top international team pays a lot of money to their players and there are conditions associated with it. Being fit is one of the most basic requirements for a sportsman

they are already earning good money, central contracts plus PSL contracts, some players play other leagues as well. Money should not be an issue.

I think it's in the Pakistani culture that a lot of people won't understand the language of love, they need strictness to make them work.

That's why they need danda from a Pakistani pehelwan coach, hire him and he will gove you results by being strict

 

[Syed1]

Not to forget a cake is cut after every 50, 100 or 2-fer..

 

[Citizen4]

Not to forget a cake is cut after every 50, 100 or 2-fer..

and a lot of players in the world avoid sugar to stay in shape

 

[Markhor]

If you're a Pakistani cricketer playing for the national team then lack of money to afford healthy food cannot be an excuse.

I think bad habits develop from an early age. I'm not saying ignorance is an excuse but some of these players from simple backgrounds genuinely don't know any better. They don't view themselves as professional athletes and are not educated on the appropriate dietary/exercise regimes.

The national team does have a full time fitness coach and nutritionist but you need to ensure standards at U19 and domestic level. You can't expect a player who's been living a certain way for 20+ years to suddenly become a professional athlete on command.

And then there's the attitudes of the players. You have folks like Umar Akmal claiming if he loses weight his power hitting will suffer !

 

[Syed1]

If you're a Pakistani cricketer playing for the national team then lack of money to afford healthy food cannot be an excuse.

I think bad habits develop from an early age. I'm not saying ignorance is an excuse but some of these players from simple backgrounds genuinely don't know any better. They don't view themselves as professional athletes and are not educated on the appropriate dietary/exercise regimes.

The national team does have a full time fitness coach and nutritionist but you need to ensure standards at U19 and domestic level. You can't expect a player who's been living a certain way for 20+ years to suddenly become a professional athlete on command.

And then there's the attitudes of the players. You have folks like Umar Akmal claiming if he loses weight his power hitting will suffer !

I think finance isn't an issue. The overwhelming majority of our cricketers have this dehati mentality that if they eat fat laden food they will develop jaan and will improve their hitting ability


The emphasis is given on eating as much meat as possible so that the insatiable appetite of their dolay for protein is met.

Even in one of those annoying PSL interviews with Zainab, Waz mentioned that he instructed all the IU players to have a certain diet that comprised a lot of salad and he said the players complained that "Salad changi nai lagdi hai"

 

[Citizen4]

I think finance isn't an issue. The overwhelming majority of our cricketers have this dehati mentality that if they eat fat laden food they will develop jaan and will improve their hitting ability


The emphasis is given on eating as much meat as possible so that the insatiable appetite of their dolay for protein is met.

Even in one of those annoying PSL interviews with Zainab, Waz mentioned that he instructed all the IU players to have a certain diet that comprised a lot of salad and he said the players complained that "Salad changi nai lagdi hai"

Wasim have said it on tv that in our culture (among dehati mentalities) it is believed that eating 2 parathas is better than eating 1 because it will give us more energy

 

[Rayyman]

Wasim have said it on tv that in our culture (among dehati mentalities) it is believed that eating 2 parathas is better than eating 1 because it will give us more energy

Agreed. Even chubby people are called "healthy." If somebody is losing weight, they will call him/her "kamzor"(weak). If somebody is gaining weight then they will call them healthy (even if though they are getting fat.

 

[Belawal2014]

If you're a Pakistani cricketer playing for the national team then lack of money to afford healthy food cannot be an excuse.

I think bad habits develop from an early age. I'm not saying ignorance is an excuse but some of these players from simple backgrounds genuinely don't know any better. They don't view themselves as professional athletes and are not educated on the appropriate dietary/exercise regimes.

The national team does have a full time fitness coach and nutritionist but you need to ensure standards at U19 and domestic level. You can't expect a player who's been living a certain way for 20+ years to suddenly become a professional athlete on command.

And then there's the attitudes of the players. You have folks like Umar Akmal claiming if he loses weight his power hitting will suffer !

One of the Akmal brothers also claimed once that if they even drink a glass of water, it shows on their body. )

 

[Saj]

Because they are allowed to get away with it.

Domestic teams and coaches need to do more.

 

[PakLFC]

I think it's a cultural thing. They find it hard to discipline themselves compared to players from other countries. Their diet does not change at all like it should for sports people like just look at all the body mass the likes of Umar Akmal carry.

 

[moghul]

If you have to assess a country's progress, look how many people are running on the streets and parks, taking care of their fitness. Pakistan is way behind.

 

[shane]

Wasim Akram made the valid point that Pakistani athletes eat like fat cows (Ok he did not use those words but it was the gist of it). That is why they are fat and unfit.

 

[rhony]

One of the Akmal brothers also claimed once that if they even drink a glass of water, it shows on their body. )

LOL!!! He probably misunderstood 'Water Weight'

 

[Gilly]

It does come back to the selectors, players should only be selected once they have shown that they are fit and can maintain that fitness. One of the problems of picking young players is although they may be good players they could also be lazy and or have attitude issues. A played should display a very good attitude and high level of motivation towards training in domestic cricket before they are even considered for selection in the national team.

 

[troodon]

Oily foods combined with weak genetics. Most subcontinent people fall under this category.

We are prone to having pot bellies.

Takes a lot of hardwork and dedication to be like Kohli.

 

[Shafi]

Lack of nutritious foods. Too much over cooked foods, chemical/harmful objects in foods, low quality meals, Too much dependent on soft drink rather than purified water, lack of eating raw vegetables, not eating dairy foods like cheese or milk and so on...

 

[MABA]

I think this problem is definitely changing, a lot of players if you follow their social media pages are doing proper work on their fitness. Of course many people like chota Akmal who don't seem to care too much still exist and that has nothing to do with the lack of facilities but due to sheer laziness.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Oily foods combined with weak genetics. Most subcontinent people fall under this category.

We are prone to having pot bellies.

Takes a lot of hardwork and dedication to be like Kohli.

Because we eat bad food. Bring up a Korean child on a Punjabi diet, and he will face similar problems too.

 

[hadi123]

Pakistani diet is not good lots of oil and fried foods.

 

[TahirFan]

Maybe the should take some advice from Peter Siddle

 

[Veteran]

Maybe the should take some advice from Peter Siddle

Thanks for the post. While not a vegetarian, I feel that it is much healthier to limit eating meat especially red meat. I try to incorporate alternative forms of protein (beans, lentils, soy, nuts) and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Also, of course, exercise is crucial. At 73 I play tennis every week winter and summer and exercise a minimum of an hour a day. Will check out Peter Siddle's website. I think the important thing for all of us to realize is that healthy habits need discipline and are really habits for a lifetime. In certain cultures this is a prevalent concept. In China elderly people practise Tai Chi and of course in India yoga is a lifetime activity.

 

[IAJ]

It does come back to the selectors, players should only be selected once they have shown that they are fit and can maintain that fitness. One of the problems of picking young players is although they may be good players they could also be lazy and or have attitude issues. A played should display a very good attitude and high level of motivation towards training in domestic cricket before they are even considered for selection in the national team.

If PCB did set Australian criterias only Younis Khan and Misbah would make it.

The whole culture towards fitness and diet needs to change. Untill that happens nothing will change.