Mishab-ul-Haq joins fitness camp, Hafeez and Afridi confirm unavailability
Fitness camp continued on its second day at National Cricket Academy in Lahore with Pakistan’s test skipper and senior batsman, Mishab-ul-Haq joining his side after offering Umrah. On the other hand, samples of players for further tests were also being taken. Psychiatrists and health experts are expected to give lectures to the players while special trainings would also been held during the camp. The national side’s former Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, along with youngsters Haris Sohail and Imad Wasim are not appearing in the fitness test. The authorities have also warned of cancelling the central contract of the players for rejecting fitness test. READ: Mickey Arthur appointed Pakistan’s head coach
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), through this camp, had decided to test the fitness of all central contracted cricketers ahead of the boot camp at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul which starts May 14. On his unavailability, the star-allrounder, Shahid Afridi confirmed that he wanted to regain fitness before his stint with the Hampshire T20 team gets underway. Senior batsman, Mohammed Hafeez, also confirmed his injury and assured that he is working for a speedy recovery and will hopefully be available before the team leaves for England. PCB have recently appointed former South Africa and Australia’s coach, Micky Arthur, as their head coach and he will be joining the team by the end of this month.
His first stint as coach will be a lengthy tour to England with the first test to kick-start on July 16th. Pakistan is scheduled to play four tests, five One Day Internationals and one Twenty20.