PCB starts online fitness tests of centrally contracted players amid lockdown

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) started the online fitness tests of the centrally contracted players amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown on Monday, despite the injuries sustained by Pakistan’s right-handed batsman Sohaib Maqsood during a similar test in the previous week.

According to a statement by the PCB, the fitness tests are being taken on April 20 and 21. Players including batsmen Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, fast-bowlers Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, all-rounders Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan completed their fitness assessments on Monday, whereas the other centrally contracted players will begin the process of the fitness tests on Tuesday.

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The fitness tests of the contracted domestic cricketers had started last week.

The PCB clarified that the strength and conditioning coach of the Pakistan team Yasir Malik had designed the online fitness tests.

“Yasir is in touch with the players through internet and video streaming and is also supervising their fitness tests individually,” a PCB official said.

The online fitness tests have been introduced by the PCB to keep the players focused during the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.