Tug of war: Pakistani cricketers overpower Army cadets

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The Pakistan cricket team beat Pakistan Army cadets in a tug-of-war competition on Thursday.

The national side is currently at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul for physical training. The two-week long training programme, which began on May 14, is scheduled to end on May 28.

See: Cricketers given fitness training the military way at PMA Kakul

The cricketers, after beating the cadets, celebrated their win in full spirits.

The Pakistan team has been going under rigorous regimes to enhance fitness standards, which are often a concern for the national side.

Fitness: an all-time concern

Pakistan put up a disastrous show in the Asia Cup T20 and ICC World T20 earlier this year. Former head coach Waqar Younis, who was eventually sidelined from his position after the team's disastrous run, had termed "unsatisfactory fitness" as the key reason for the dismal performance .

Read: World T20: Fitness, fielding major concerns for Pakistan, says Afridi

PCB hopes that the fitness camp will prove to be beneficial for the players ahead of the daunting English tour. Nonetheless, the below-par fitness levels of a majority of cricketers are a cause of concern for the board.

Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced 21-men probable list for the forthcoming tour of England after his keen observation of the players' performance in the ongoing camp.

However, the exclusion of Fawad Alam, who was termed to be one of the fittest cricketers at the start of camp, has come as a surprise.

Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Pakistan's highest Test scorer Younis Khan turned out to be the fittest cricketers alongside Alam and Shan Masood, despite the age gap.

Pakistan's limited-overs middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood and Test spinner Zulfiqar Baber, who has been named for the skills camp, were unable to reach the desired fitness levels.

Hafeez's Injury

Despite being named in the skills camp, Pakistan's star all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is doubtful for the tour of England. His medical reports, that came out earlier today, term his condition to be unsatisfactory.

Pakistan will tour England for four Tests, three One-Day Internationals, and a T20 International later this summer. The tour will kick off on July 14.

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