COURTESY BY: https://www.cricingif.com/
In unprecedented circumstances amid the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to go ahead with the online fitness tests to ensure that players are not slacking off and becoming sluggish.
Therefore, in this first phase of the tests, left-arm batsman Haris Sohail, Mohammad Abbas, Asad Shafiq and former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed have undergone rigorous testing at home – monitored through video link.
Test opener Shan Masood, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim are also part of the list of players who were tested today. The remaining centrally contracted players are set to be tested tomorrow.
Pakistan strength and conditioning coach Yasir Malik is supervising these tests while other domestic players are going to be tested by their respective teams’ trainers.
Earlier, Sohaib Maqsood hurt his knees while giving a fitness test at home as his knee slammed on the table in his room and the former Pakistan player needed urgent medical attention. Sohaib mentioned in a Tweet that he completed the test despite the injury and he backs PCB for taking these tests because it helps keep players focused.
While fitness testing at home is not an ideal scenario and there are a host of problems in managing these tests, this looks to be the only viable solution to ensure that players remain physically fit and ready to take field once cricket resumes.
The modified test comprises push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, burpees, Bulgarian split squats, reverse plank and level 18 Yo-Yo test.
Pakistan are scheduled to tour the Netherlands, Ireland and England in July but COVID-19 has put the tour in doubt and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are expected to make a decision on the fate of the tour by May 15.
