The Pakistan Cricket Board’s plans of organising a short conditioning camp before the team leaves for Bangladesh around March 7 to participate in the Asia Cup is being met with resistance by some players.
The PCB wants to hold a conditioning camp from March 2 so that new coach Australian Dav Whatmore is also able to spend time with the players in the net and assess them before they leave for the Asia Cup.
“The board has also asked former Test pacer, Sarfaraz Nawaz to work with the current crop of fast bowlers in this camp but some players believe it would be better if they were given a week’s break after returning home from the UAE on Tuesday,” reports quoting source said.
The Pakistani players have been engaged in a “home” series with England in the UAE since early January and before that played in Bangladesh and also against Sri Lanka in the emirates.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq has already said that one reason for the sudden drop in performance of players could be home sickness.
“The Chairman of the board will be returning home today and will decide on next course of action,” PTI reported.
Whatmore and fielding coach Julian Fountain are also due to reach Lahore on March 2 to take charge of the team.
The source said Sarfaraz was also not a popular choice with the players to work as bowling coach because of his statements criticising them.
Interestingly, after the decision of Pakistan bowling coach Aaqib Javed to join the UAE team as its head coach, the post of bowling coach is also going to be vacant after the England series.
On Sunday, Sarfaraz said that young pacer, Muhammad Amir should be banned for life at a time when many former players are urging the board to take steps for rehabilitation of Amir.
