Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s pre-season cricket training-camp was started here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) under the supervision of former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Tuesday. Misbah-ul-Haq apprised the cricketers about objectives of the camp which has been organized by the PCB, to enhance players' fitness and endurance ahead of Pakistan's coming assignment of two-Test series of the ICC Championship against Sri Lanka at home.
The 17-day conditioning camp will begin on 22 August and run until 7 September. The participating players will undergo a fitness test on Wednesday. The players including Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Sohail, Shaan Masood, Usman Shinwari, Imam ul Haq, Wahab Riaz, Abid Ali, Rahat Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Zafar Gohar, Bilal Asif, Asif Ali and Mir Hamza reported at the camp.
Hasan Ali, who is currently in Dubai where he is set to get married, will report on August 26. Shadab Khan would join the camp on August 22 with Azhar Ali reporting on August 24. During the pre-season camp, the players will undergo fielding drills and net sessions, along with fitness and other cricketing activities.
The camp has been set up to prepare the players for a competitive and challenging domestic and international cricket season, which is expected to begin with the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Trophy from 12th September. Apart from 31 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class matches and number of domestic white ball matches in relation to the National T20 Cup and Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament, the Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play six World Test Championship Tests, three ODIs and nine T20Is in the forthcoming season.
Zakir Khan, Director - International Cricket, said: "This conditioning camp is of great significance. The players will undergo strenuous training sessions to prepare for a demanding season, which will see Pakistan spend 30 of their 42 cricket-playing days in Test cricket.
Misbah ul Haq, who has been Pakistan's most successful captain, understands the arduous demands of the format in this day and age. With the advent of the World Test Championship, the PCB wants Pakistan to turn up with their best red ball game when they face Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series at home."