In an exciting development for Pakistan cricket, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim have made their way back into the national team’s fold, being selected to partake in a specialized fitness camp organized in collaboration with the Pakistan Army. The intensive camp, which is scheduled to run from March 26 to April 8 at Kakul, Abbottabad, is set to be a cornerstone in the team’s preparations for a busy season ahead that includes home and away T20I series against New Zealand, Ireland, and England, and also builds up to the ICC T20 World Cup happening in June.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a recent statement, confirmed the participation of 29 players in the fitness camp. The board has emphasized the importance of this camp as a means to not only fine-tune the physical attributes of the players, but also to instil mental fortitude, enhance strategic acumen, and foster team spirit. With the crucial series coming up, the PCB is keen on elevating the players’ endurance, agility, leadership qualities, and overall on-field performance.
Among the list of selected players is UAE’s Pakistan-born sensation, Usman Khan, who has been making waves in the cricket world with his explosive performances during the PSL. Another noteworthy inclusion is fast bowler Haris Rauf, who is currently on the mend from a shoulder injury. In light of his recuperation, the board has also restored his central contract, signalling their confidence in his potential and importance to the team.
The training camp is to be conducted under the watchful eyes of veteran trainers and coaches, both from the PCB and the Pakistan Army, ensuring a rigorous workout regime. It will not be confined to physical training alone; strategic in-game thinking and mental resilience will also be key components of the curriculum. The PCB views this initiative as pivotal to uniting the team under a single banner of fitness and preparedness, as athletes gear up to face challenging conditions and opponents in the international arena.
The following is the comprehensive list of players who will be attending the fitness training camp at Kakul: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah, Saud Shakeel, Usman Khan, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mehran Mumtaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir. This diverse group represents a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, all hungry to make their mark on the sport.
The cricketing fraternity awaits the outcomes of this camp, given its unique nature and the high level of expectation placed on the Pakistan team, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. For fans, the return of Amir and Wasim, coupled with the emergence of new talent, ushers in a wave of optimism for Pakistan’s prospects this cricketing season. Meanwhile, the PCB remains committed to providing its players with the best resources to help them excel on the biggest stages of the sport. The foundation laid in Kakul could very well determine the team’s fate on the pitches in the USA and West Indies come the World Cup in June.
