PCB introduces comprehensive fitness policy for domestic cricketers

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced a comprehensive domestic cricket fitness policy for the 2026-27 season, making physical fitness a key requirement for players representing regional, departmental, district, and zonal teams across the country.

The newly announced policy has been designed to improve players’ overall fitness standards and ensure they are better prepared for the physical demands of modern cricket. Covering athletes from junior age-group competitions to first-class domestic cricket, the framework aims to establish a consistent and measurable fitness system throughout Pakistan’s domestic structure.

The fitness programme has been developed by PCB Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine Javed Mughal. It follows a structured two-tier model that has been designed to align with international cricket standards while remaining practical, reliable, and easy to implement across different levels of the domestic game. The testing procedures have been created to produce consistent and repeatable results, allowing coaches and trainers to accurately monitor players’ physical progress.

Under the new system, Tier 1 will apply to players representing the country’s 20 regional teams, eight departmental first-class sides, and more than 25 Grade-II departmental teams. These players will be required to complete 11 separate fitness tests, providing a total of 17 scoring opportunities during the assessment process.

Tier 2 has been introduced for players competing in senior district cricket, U19 district teams, and regional U17 and U15 squads. Participants in this category will undergo eight different fitness tests, offering a maximum of 12 scoring opportunities.

The PCB has also established a clear scoring system to determine whether a player passes or fails the assessment. In Tier 1, players may receive up to seven red scores and still meet the required fitness standard. However, recording eight or more red scores will result in a failed assessment. Those who fail will be allowed one opportunity to retake the test.

Similarly, Tier 2 players will fail the assessment if they receive six or more red scores. The board hopes that the grading system will encourage players to maintain high fitness standards while also identifying areas requiring improvement.

Fitness monitoring will not end after the initial assessment. Players who successfully complete the testing process will undergo another round of fitness evaluations approximately six months later. The purpose of the follow-up assessment is to measure each player’s progress and ensure that fitness levels continue to improve throughout the season.

According to the PCB, every player is expected to demonstrate measurable improvement compared to their initial baseline results. The board believes continuous assessment will promote long-term physical development rather than one-time preparation for testing.

The policy also outlines the procedure for players who do not meet the required benchmarks. Instead of repeating only the failed components, any player who fails the assessment will be required to complete the entire fitness testing programme again. This approach is intended to ensure overall physical readiness rather than focusing on individual weaknesses.

The responsibility for conducting the assessments will rest with PCB-approved strength and conditioning coaches. These coaches will supervise fitness testing at every level of domestic cricket and submit the results to the National Cricket Academy along with the PCB’s Medical and Sports Science Department for evaluation and record-keeping.

With this initiative, the PCB aims to strengthen the fitness culture within domestic cricket, enhance player performance, and create a stronger pathway for athletes aspiring to represent Pakistan at the international level.