August 24, 2007	Friday	Sha’aban 10, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 23: Pakistan’s new fitness trainer said on Thursday, he expected the nation’s cricketers to reach peak physical condition before their tour of arch-rivals India in November.

David Dwyer, known for his stints in rugby with Australian teams, has been hired on the recommendation of Pakistan’s new coach Geoff Lawson.

“The current fitness level is okay and I have been watching enough to know that I can see what their levels probably are, and the target is to reach the top level before the important series against India,” Dwyer told reporters.

Dwyer arrived this month with fellow Australian Lawson to take charge of Pakistan’s final preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September.

Dwyer has replaced South African Murray Stevenson whose contract was not renewed in June.

Coach Lawson was appointed in place of Englishman Bob Woolmer who died during Pakistan’s first-round exit from the World Cup in the Caribbean this year.

Fitness has been a big concern for Pakistan’s cricketers in the past with injuries to several players affecting team performance.

Pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq missed the World Cup due to injury problems.

Dwyer hoped such problems could be overcome.

“Basically we work with these guys so that we improve the area that they are weak in, trying to get rid of the limitations that they may have,” said Dwyer.

He said he would adopt tough rugby-style fitness coaching that includes carrying other players around on their shoulders.

“The idea of having a rugby coach is not new in cricket, things are quite the same but they are put in a different way so that these guys get something new, which they have not done before.

“I have worked with Lawson at the University of New South Wales cricket club in the year they made the grand final and won the one-day series so the rugby style training has worked before.”

Pakistan play their first Twenty20 World Cup match against Scotland in Durban on Sept 12. They then face archrivals India at the same venue two days later. The top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the round of Super Eights.

They go on to tour India in November.—AFP