Former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez recently shared his concerns about the fitness standards of the current Pakistan cricket team during a podcast with Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist. Hafeez, who previously served as Director of the Pakistan cricket team, criticized the physical condition of the players under the past management, including coaches Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn, and current captain Babar Azam.
Hafeez emphasized that the team’s lack of focus on fitness negatively impacted their performance, particularly in the recent Test series in Australia. He recounted a conversation with the team’s trainer, expressing his disappointment with the trainer’s compliance with directives from the previous management to deprioritize fitness standards.
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“When I retired from this team, I ticked all the boxes of fitness. If I could do it at the age of 41, then why can’t the others?” Hafeez questioned. He noted that upon joining the team as Director, he observed a significant increase in players’ body fat percentage and a decline in their running ability. Hafeez asked the trainer why the players were unable to meet fitness standards, to which the trainer revealed a startling fact: the last management instructed him to ignore fitness requirements and let the players play as they wished until the World Cup 2023.
Hafeez was frustrated by the trainer’s decision to follow these directives, arguing that the trainer should have resigned if he felt he was unable to do his job properly. Hafeez believes that this neglect of fitness was a key factor in the team’s fatigue and poor performance in the final innings of the Test series against Australia.
The fitness issues have compounded Pakistan’s recent string of disappointments, including subpar performances in the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup, a Test series whitewash against Australia, and a significant loss in the T20I series to New Zealand. Hafeez highlighted the importance of fitness in maintaining high performance and expressed concern over the team’s neglect of this crucial aspect.
The conversation underscored a troubling trend regarding the players’ body fat levels, which are critical indicators of fitness and performance. Hafeez’s insights reflect broader concerns about the team’s preparation and management, emphasizing the need for a renewed focus on fitness to ensure better outcomes in future competitions.
