There's no fitness test in Pakistan, reveals Wasim Akram, criticises Babar for accepting Kohli's shirt openly

Former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram expressed his disappointment over Pakistan's recent defeat against India in the ICC ODI World Cup match. Akram, popularly known as the 'Sultan of Swing' during his playing days, attributed the loss to the poor fitness of the Pakistani team. He emphasized the importance of regular fitness tests for professional cricketers to maintain their performance. Akram made these comments during a recent TV show in Pakistan.

"I am concerned about the fitness of these players. Now there is no fitness test. When Misbah was the coach and selector, he used to get the Yo-Yo Test and other tests done. A professional cricketer should undergo a fitness test at least once in a month. If you won't do this, you will face this (defeat vs India)," Akram said.

He also hit out at the Pakistan captain Babar Azam for accepting Kohli's t-shirt on the ground. "Everybody is showing this clip over and over again. But after your fans are so hurt after a disappointing performance, this should be a private matter, it should not be done in an open ground," Akram said.


“Today was not the day to do this. If you want to do it – if your uncle’s son has asked you to get Kohli’s shirt – then do it after the game in the dressing room,” the former pacer added.

Addressing the concerns within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Akram mentioned the frequent changes in the board's leadership over the past three years. He explained that this instability created anxiety among the players and management, affecting their performance on the field. Pakistan, who were at a comfortable position of 154 for 2, collapsed to a total of 191 runs, which Akram found extremely disappointing.

India's victory over Pakistan in the ODI World Cup match continued their unbeaten streak against their arch-rivals, extending their record to 8-0 in the tournament. The win triggered celebrations among millions of Indian fans worldwide.

Looking ahead, India will face Bangladesh on October 19 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, while Pakistan will take on Australia on October 20 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.