Yousuf resigns as PCB selector amidst media backlash

Former Pakistan cricket captain Muhammad Yousuf on Sunday stepped down as national selector citing personal reasons.

Yousuf, who had been attached with the Pakistan Cricket Board in different roles since last year, was part of a broad-based national selection committee that includes two former Test players, head coaches, captains and an analyst, among others.

In his post on 'X', Yousuf wrote, "I announce my resignation as a selector for the Pakistan cricket team due to personal reasons. Serving this incredible team has been a profound privilege, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth and success of Pakistan Cricket."

A source close to Yousuf, however, said that the former batter was not happy with the criticism aimed at him in the PCB.

"He was restless at being ridiculed in the media and on social media regularly and felt it would be best to just focus on coaching," the source said.

Yousuf will continue to serve as a batting coach in the High-Performance Centre

After Pakistan's disastrous show in the T20 World Cup in the Americas this year, the selection committee was restructured, with former players Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq being sacked. But Yousuf and former Test player Asad Shafiq were retained.

"I have immense faith in the talent and spirit of our players, and wish our team all the best as they continue to strive for greatness," Yousuf wrote on 'X'.

Improve fitness or face contract termination: PCB warns centrally contracted players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a stern warning to 6-7 centrally contracted players, urging them to improve their fitness or risk losing their contracts.

The Pakistan team fitness trainer and physiotherapist will conduct another round of fitness tests on Monday in Lahore after some players didn't meet the required benchmarks in the tests held earlier this month.

“The players who have central and domestic contracts have been told in clear terms that there will be no compromise on fitness and they have to meet the benchmarks set by the team's fitness experts,” a board official said.

The official said that "the two foreign head coaches, Jason Gillispie and Gary Kirsten had told the PCB Chairman that no player should be given any benefit as far as fitness levels are concerned.”
These fitness tests are aimed at assessing stamina, endurance, muscle strength, and other crucial factors.

The PCB has delayed the announcement of the list of players eligible for central contracts for the 2024/2025 period, which typically runs from July to July. Last year, the announcement was postponed until September due to changes in board leadership.

This year it is anticipated that the board will reduce the number of players receiving central contracts from the existing list of 27 as the new coaches are also laying a lot of stress on performance and behavioural evaluations.

The official said the players found struggling to meet the benchmark in fitness tests earlier this year had been given two months to work on their fitness and the tests on Monday are part of the evaluation process.

The Pakistan team has frequently faced criticism for its fitness standards compared to other international teams.

After the World Cup in India last year, team director Muhammad Hafeez and former captain Misbah ul Haq revealed that former head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Babar Azam had instructed the trainer not to pressure players on fitness, allowing them to focus on performance.