A list of 29 players who will participate in the fitness camp in Kakul, Abbottabad, was released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday. The players include pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim, who both recently announced their decision to end their retirement from international cricket.
The cricket board stated in a news statement that the camp was “strategically designed to prepare the players for the upcoming series and tournaments” and was run in conjunction with the Pakistan Army.
These included the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, the home T20I series against New Zealand, and the away T20I series against Ireland and England.
“The camp is scheduled to start tomorrow, March 26, and end on April 8. Later today, the players will report to the camp, according to the PCB.
The camp’s stated goals were to “enhance the physical and mental strength of the players, ensuring they are in the best condition to face the challenges ahead” and to concentrate on team bonding.
The announcement said, “Under the direction of skilled trainers and coaches, the players will go through an extensive training regimen designed to improve their overall performance on the field, agility, leadership, and strategic thinking.”
Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah, Saud Shakeel, Usman Khan, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mehran Mumtaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir are among the participants.
Amir and Imad take back their retirement from international cricket.
Imad announced on Saturday that he had gone back to his retirement from international cricket and that the T20 World Cup would be his next tournament. In November of last year, Wasim declared his retirement from the game of cricket internationally.
He said he will do his “very best to bring laurels to my country” in a post on X, thanking the PCB for “reposing trust in me.” Priority one is Pakistan!
After having “few positive” meetings with the PCB, fast bowler Amir declared a day later that he had changed his mind about retiring from international cricket and that he will be available for the ICC T20 World Cup, which begins in June.
The seasoned pacer declared his retirement in 2020 and said the PCB management was “mentally torturing” him. The cricket player was alluding to the notorious controversy of 2010 in which he was charged with spot-fixing after intentionally bowling two no-balls in the Lord’s Test match against England in exchange for money as part of a betting scheme.
Amir said in a post on X that he was politely informed by the board that his services were required and that he could continue to play for the team.
He declared, “I declare that I am available to be considered for the upcoming t20WC [ICC T20 World Cup] after discussing with family and well-wishers.”
“It is my duty to serve my country before my own desires,” he continued. “My greatest aspirations have always been and will continue to be serving my country while wearing the green jersey,” he declared.
