Pakistan's Test team performance and fitness under scrutiny in crucial PCB meeting

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi chaired a two-hour meeting on Sunday with the selection committee and mentors to discuss the national team's recent performance and fitness concerns.

Sources revealed that Naqvi first met privately with the team's mentors, followed by a joint discussion with the selection committee. One of the main focuses of the meeting was the fitness levels of the players, which have contributed to recent defeats.

During the session, the selection committee presented potential changes to the squad, while Naqvi and the mentors agreed to complete the performance evaluations and fitness assessments of players by the end of the current series.

The chairman also highlighted the need to improve the quality of pitches for future matches. 

Attendees of the meeting included Aqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hasan Cheema, and advisor Bilal Afzal. Domestic cricket director Abdullah Khurram Niazi and high-performance director Nadeem Khan were also present. Mentors Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, and Saqlain Mushtaq attended in person, while Sarfaraz Ahmed and selection committee member Asad Shafiq joined via video link.

This meeting was arranged after Pakistan’s poor performance in the recent Test series against England, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat, following an earlier 2-0 whitewash by Bangladesh. Pakistan has now lost six consecutive Test matches, which has significantly dropped their rankings to No. 9.

The Shan Masood-led team needs a strong performance in the upcoming second Test against England, set to begin on October 15 at Multan Cricket Stadium, to stay in the tournament and improve their standing.