IND vs PAK: "Their Tummies Are Visible, Their Lower Are Heavy, And They Can't Move" - Pakistan Former Captain Misbah-ul-Haq Says On Pakistan Players' Fitness Standards

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq slammed the fitness standards of current Pakistan players. He stated that their tummies are visible and the reason behind this is the lack of fitness tests on the team selection. Misbah, who worked as Pakistan’s head coach before leaving the job in 2021, said that there haven’t been any fitness tests and there’s no benchmark to follow either.

Misbah-ul-Haq lashed out at the players after Pakistan’s humiliating defeat to England in the T20 World Cup warm-up match. Pakistan were reduced to 160/8 in a 19-over-a-side match, and England made a mockery of the chase by winning in 14.5 overs. Misbah was unimpressed with the players’ body language and stated that only a few members of the team were concerned about fitness.

Pakistan Players’ Tummies Are Visible – Misbah-ul-Haq

“Clear cut, fitness issues are visible, Waqar left four times [as coach], I left once. Players like myself, Shoaib Malik, and Younis Khan were quite into fitness, and we used to push ourselves. Those who push others out of their limitations are not considered good trainers nor good coaches. Their tummies are visible; their lower are heavy and they can’t move. The reason behind this is there has not been a single fitness test, there is no benchmark,” Cricket Pakistan quoted Misbah as saying.

Fitness Test Level During Domestic Season Becomes Joke – Misbah-ul-Haq

The 48-year-old claimed that nobody takes the fitness test during Pakistan’s domestic season seriously and it has become a joke.

“Fitness test level during domestic season becomes a joke. We used to have arguments that we used to say that the standard used for the international level must be used for the domestic level as well. The responsible people at the domestic level always opposed us related to fitness,” he added.

Pakistan dominated the group stage of last year’s T20 World Cup, defeating arch-rivals India for the first time in World Cup events. The Babar will lead Pakistan in the marquee event and the Men in Green will take on the Men in Blue in their opening encounter of the World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, on Sunday, October 23.