The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is doing everything in their power to resurrect the golden era following a dismal T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. The nation’s cricket governing body plans to bring back the Yo-Yo test in an effort to raise players’ fitness levels.
Former Director of Domestic Cricket Khurram Niazi approved a comprehensive programme to improve Pakistani players’ fitness levels; previously, the Yo-Yo test was administered erratically. The model indicates that starting on July 11, the fitness tests will be administered in two stages. Testing will take place nationwide in the first phase, with district-level testing coming first and then regional testing.
Additionally endorsing the most recent fitness campaign is PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Failure to pass the fitness tests could result in players being cut from regional and national teams. Niazi has made it clear that passing fitness tests—such as the Yo-Yo test—is now a prerequisite for regional contracts and squad selection. Test cricket players, international players, and national team players alike will all be required to take these examinations.
Muhammad Hafeez took a hard line against the Pakistani team’s management for lowering the bar for fitness
The Yo-Yo test and other fitness tests were dropped when Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn were leading the Pakistan Cricket Team, according to previous revelations made by former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez. In an interview with the club’s trainer, Hafeez revealed his dissatisfaction on the Club Prairie Fire podcast. The trainer acknowledged that the team had complied with the previous management’s directives to loosen fitness standards.
The PCB wants to make sure that Pakistan’s cricket players can compete with some of the world’s most physically fit teams, which is why the Yo-Yo test has been reinstated.
August 2024 will see the Men in Green play two Test matches at home against Bangladesh. The 2023–2025 World Test Championship cycle includes this series. On the points table, Pakistan is ranked fifth, and Bangladesh is mired at number eight.