Despite three back-to-back defeats in the World Cup, 7 Pakistan cricket team players opted to skip the optional training session on Thursday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, ahead of the PAK vs SA match on Friday.
The players who opted to skip the training session were Abdullah Shafique, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, and Hassan Ali.
According to reports, Hasan Ali did not take part in the optional training session due to fever. The pacer is likely to miss the South Africa clash with Mohammad Wasim Junior replacing him.
Notably, the Babar Azam-led side are receiving criticism for their poor show in the World Cup 2023. The Men in Green suffered an embarrassing 8-wicket loss against Afghanistan for the first time in their ODI history.
Many former Pakistan players, including Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi slammed the team for their lethargic attitude in the ongoing tournament.
Wasim Akram called out the Pakistan players for their poor fitness following team’s third straight defeat.
“Wet pitch or not, look at the fielding, the fitness levels. We’ve been screaming for the last three weeks that these players haven’t undergone a fitness test in the last two years. If I start taking individual names, their faces will drop. Looks like these guys are eating eight kilos of mutton every day. Should there not be tests?” Akram said on Pakistani channel A Sports.
“Professionally, you guys are getting paid, playing for your country. There has to be a certain criteria. When Misbah [Ul-Haq] was coach, had that criteria. Players hated him, but it worked. Fielding is all about fitness, and that’s where we are lacking,” the former Pakistan captain further added.
With two wins and three losses in the tournament, Pakistan team will now have to win their remaining 4 matches to have a chance to qualify for the semi-final.
Pakistan squad for World Cup:
Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr
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