Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed has said that the national team’s training camps are playing a vital role in improving the players’ fitness and overall performance.
In an exclusive interview, Abrar spoke in detail about the camp environment, the newly introduced fitness standards, and his future ambitions. He revealed that he finished third or fourth in the initial fitness assessments and believes he is not far from becoming the world’s No. 1 bowler in both ODI and T20I cricket.
New and tougher fitness standards
Abrar said there is no compromise on fitness this time. The national team’s fitness testing system has been revamped, with a significant increase in the number of assessments. Additionally, 12 to 13 new tests have been introduced during gym sessions.
Speaking about his own performance, he said, “In the initial fitness tests, I finished third or fourth in my group of eight or nine players. Most of the boys performed very well, and when the tests are repeated, there will be strong competition among the players.”
He added that he currently feels in the best physical condition of his career, stressing that the more time players spend on the field, the better both their skills and fitness become.
Aiming for the No. 1 ranking
Discussing his future goals, Abrar expressed confidence that he is close to reaching the top of the ODI and T20I bowling rankings. He said his aim is to become the world’s No. 1 bowler in both white-ball formats while also improving his ranking in Test cricket.
Learning from former stars
The spinner praised the involvement of former Pakistan cricketers in the training camp, saying it has been a great experience working with Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Gul, and Sarfaraz Ahmed. He added that besides working on his bowling, he is also focusing on improving his batting under Misbah’s guidance.
Preparations for the West Indies tour
Abrar said the players have completed a month-long training programme consisting of three different sessions to prepare for the upcoming West Indies series. He expressed confidence that the team’s hard work will pay off and hoped Pakistan would achieve success on the tour.
England challenge and Stokes’ absence
Speaking about the England series, Abrar said England remain a strong side that always arrive well prepared. However, he noted that Ben Stokes is a world-class player and England will certainly feel his absence.
He concluded by saying that he is fully prepared to perform in both red-ball and white-ball cricket and will always give his 100 percent whenever the team needs him.
Also Read: PCB likely to announce 17-member squad for West Indies, England tours
