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Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has expressed serious concerns about the fitness levels of the current Pakistan cricket team. In a recent statement, Akram highlighted the importance of fitness in modern cricket and pointed out that the national team is not placing enough emphasis on this crucial aspect. He noted that the lack of fitness has become evident, especially during high-profile tournaments.
Lack of fitness in the T20 World Cup
Akram specifically mentioned Pakistan’s performance during the T20 World Cup, where the team’s fitness came under scrutiny on the global stage. He stressed that maintaining peak physical condition is essential for competing at the highest level, particularly in high-pressure tournaments like the World Cup.
“I haven’t talked much about this yet, and I don’t have any inside news, but I knew about it two years ago—cricketers aren’t focusing enough on their fitness. Now, during the World Cup, the whole world saw just how good the fitness of our cricket team truly was,” Akram said as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
Comparison between current era and his playing days
Drawing a comparison between the current era and his own playing days, Akram acknowledged that knowledge about fitness was not as widespread during his time. He emphasized that today’s players have access to far more information and resources regarding fitness, making it essential for them to take advantage of these advancements to improve their performance on the field.
“If I was playing cricket today, I’d have a lot of knowledge about fitness, as it’s now common. During the time we played cricket, information about fitness wasn’t common. We didn’t know much, so we simply followed our seniors like Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. Whatever they did, we did exactly the same,” added Akram.
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Pakistan set to face Bangladesh in Test series
As Pakistan gears up for an important two-match Test series against Bangladesh, Akram’s concerns over fitness levels are particularly timely. The series, which will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi, will demand both physical and mental endurance from the players. With fitness being a key factor in sustaining long-form cricket, the Pakistan team will need to address these issues quickly if they are to perform at their best against a competitive Bangladesh side.
