Wasim criticises Pakistan team’s diet ahead of World Cup
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KARACHI: Former Test captain and fast bowling legend Wasim Akram has slammed Pakistan cricket team for eating biryani ahead of the World Cup starting on May 30.
Wasim feels the Pakistan players are not concerned about their diet and are eating junk food before a crucial tournament.
The Pakistan cricketers are often seen attending parties where they are feasted with all kinds of meals, including biryani — a widely popular Pakistani dish of spicy rice mixed with beef, mutton or chicken. The World Cup is round the corner and every team is expected to look after their fitness and diet. Pakistan team is often regarded as one of the most unfit team in the cricketing world and Wasim is worried about that.
Read: Restless selectors call up 23 probables for World Cup fitness test
“[Our] players are still being served biryani, you cannot compete against champions by feeding them biryani,” he said.
Wasim is not the only one worried about their fitness, the cricket team was criticised after they poorly fielded against Australia in a recently-concluded ODI series in the UAE.
The former pacer also added that he sees a future captain in pacer Mohammad Amir. This comes as a surprising statement as Amir’s place in the team for the World Cup is under scrutiny after his below average performance with the ball, particularly from the point of view of the number of wickets the left-armer has claimed during the last couple of years or so.
Pakistan open their 10-team World Cup campaign with the match against West Indies on May 31 at Nottingham.
Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2019
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Comments (106) Closed
Apr 10, 2019 11:21am
Wasim- you are losing the plot . M.Amir a future captain? - he can barely bowl at present. Sadly he’s lost it
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Apr 10, 2019 11:27am
Simple define 10 fitness indicators whoever fall short kick his .. and bring new guy in otherwise such attitude will continue among players unhealthy diet!!
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Apr 10, 2019 11:33am
What's wrong with Biryani? It's rice with meat, mostly chicken which isn't bad. Are you suggesting that cricketers from other nations stop eating burgers and other fast food items which are a lot more dangerous for health?
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Apr 10, 2019 11:37am
What did you eat Wasimbhai ? At that time there were not many camera and that's why you had reverse sings.. Now, it cannot be done..
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Apr 10, 2019 11:46am
Couldn't agree more with Wasim. When Lawson was Pakistan's coach, he was also shocked that the PCB officially served oily food to the players on training camps!
Pakistan players (cricket, hockey or any other sport) need to understand what today's professionalism truly demands: it is a 365-day a year, hectic and disciplined routine.
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Apr 10, 2019 11:46am
Have biryani but workout accordingly, but worst mind set of PCB is to scrutiny the form of M.Amir on dead pitches.Wait n see wt he z gonna do in England .Give him confidence bcz he z still a class and more importantly witty, u can't drop him on the basis of form which puts him in pressure .His mere presence in team puts pressure on opposition.
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Apr 10, 2019 11:50am
Akram just want a PCB job or Money, he helped nothing to develop any fast Bowler ... always just complain
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Apr 10, 2019 11:54am
Looking at the physique of players and they way they run, everyone seems to be having Kababs and Burgers, not just they Biryani.
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Apr 10, 2019 12:51pm
Doesn't matter what they eat. They should save the poor govt of Pakistan some money and not attend the World cup after their utter humiliation in UAE.
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Apr 10, 2019 12:58pm
@Khabboo, there is no doubt amir is finished. Wasim bhai is just being polite because the media does prompt people with one ended questions.
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Apr 10, 2019 12:59pm
@jatin, go and ask shami and umesh yadav, even ishant Sharma what Wasim did. He has the greatest wrist position in history.
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Apr 10, 2019 01:03pm
@Khurram, do you think that Australia team is eating burgers before a critical Tornament ? - they have nutritional advisors which plan healthy diets for their team
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Apr 10, 2019 01:13pm
WA is a legend and no one will ever deny this, but looking at a lot of his statements, it makes me think that he says stuff for the sake of it. Amir a captain? really? Where did Karachi finish in the recent PSL, and Multan Last year? Islamabad winning the first PSL was down to Misbah and Dean Jones. Coaching is not WA calling. Also, the main Pakistani bunch are now one of the fittest, and this is shown in their fielding, we use to be the worst fitness side, but not anymore. This has been acknowledged by many commentators.
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Apr 10, 2019 01:37pm
Let them eat their biryaani Wasim. What difference will it make? After they come back after the first round at least they would have enjoyed their Biryaanis. All that salad also eaten and the same result. Diet is not going to make them win.
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Apr 10, 2019 01:51pm
He is 100 percent right in this case.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:07pm
@Razzak, its not his job to spoon feed a fast bowler, he has every right to make money as much as the next person. Its a commercial world and he has all the skill to pursue it.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:08pm
@Amir, his mere presence in the team puts a burden on the rest of the team, even they started bowling poorly. amir is old wood and cannot swing a ball at speed, and was only good when Asif was at the other end. 4 wickets in the past 2 years is testimony to this. Junaid, Shaheen Afridi and even Mir Hamza are hundred times more able than over rated amir,.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:12pm
If our neighbors can become good competitors in this game after eating lentils and veggies why can't our team eat biryani?
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Apr 10, 2019 02:16pm
PCB can afford biryanis for it's players.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:16pm
Wasim is absolutely right. Sportsmen need a diet that is high in protein and low on carbs. Biryani is perhaps the worst food that you can give to cricketers, months away from the World Cup. PCB needs to employ a dietician who would control what cricketers eat and in what quantity.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:20pm
@Khurram, Have you got any idea what an Athlete should be eating specially before the tournament ?
High protein diet less carb , exercise build muscle , strength , less salt or no salt at all, control on sugar should cut 80% intake if necessary. Exercise run build stamina how can you achieve that with Biryani and Burger ?
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Apr 10, 2019 02:25pm
Waz is right.there are bad patch in everyone's career so as happening right now with Amir.But he is certainly the best pacer in the side right now and should be included in the team for WC19.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:26pm
There is a yo-yo test and Pakistan's fitness criteria is a minimum 17:4, higher than India and a few other nations but the problem is selectors are lenient for a few players which shows on the field as poor fielding and inability to build big innings and bowl with intensity in the 2nd and 3rd spells.. Yasir Shah, Umer Akmal, Abid Ali, M Husnain, Imad Wasim failed fitness test in the recent series.. Pakistan's best performers and most first choice players like Hasan Ali, Baber Azam, Fakhar, Shadab, Faheem, Asad, Malik etc easily outscore most many fittest cricketers of the world and it shows in their performances specially fielding.. Fringe players and some seniors like Imad, Umer, Yasir need to improve big time
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Apr 10, 2019 02:29pm
@Khurram, Biriyani has rice brother it should be consumed less. you should be more careful by eating more proteins and not carbohydrates. more fibre stuff like oats for fitness.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:29pm
@Khurram, he might be suggesting, eating more balanced diet, like more proteins as players need more muscle mass, and carbohydrates as per requirement. Not to eat too much fat, as it would inc body fat and cause being overweight, which will in turn effect fitness.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:31pm
I think they shoud have Beef Nihari as well. Since most of our players are suffering from under nutrition, it's the best time to over come this problem.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:32pm
@Khurram, Yes my friend the players of other nations do not eat junk food, I have once watched the interview of Kohli and I was very impressed by his diet plan.
You have compromise loads of things to became a champion.
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Apr 10, 2019 02:43pm
Let everyone have fun.
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Apr 10, 2019 03:00pm
If Wasim is right then it shows total lack of professionalism and questions have to be asked of the PCB as to what program do they have in place to look after payers .
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Apr 10, 2019 03:07pm
@Khurram, yes precisely...they should if they are eating burgers...and i am sure they are not; you know why, because they are good professionals...
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Apr 10, 2019 03:07pm
@Khurram, the problem is obvious - it’s the rice . Athletes for peak performance need proteins - I am not a fitness instructor but from what my trainer tells me kebabs are still okay , naan roti rice and other carbs are not . - slow releasing energy carbs are the best .
Also red meat is best avoided although for athletes it may not be an issue . lightly prepared chicken which
is grilled is probably the best protein source and the healthiest
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Apr 10, 2019 03:18pm
Well, they don't like Sushi.
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Apr 10, 2019 03:24pm
@Khurram, i think yiu are the dietitian of the Pakistani cricket team
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Apr 10, 2019 03:24pm
@A,
Well, Kebabs are not bad. They contain a protein which is necessary for building muscles and for recreation.
However, low-carb food should be the priority.
- No burgers
- no white breads or rotis
- not too much of rice/potatoes
+ vegetables, fruits
+ protein (meat, fish....)
+ brown bread
...
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Apr 10, 2019 03:31pm
Dear Legend, having elaboration about performance difference in media and on the ground , You are the best JUDGE but blaming biryani without any comments about JUNK FOOD shows a bad selection of words from Wasim Akram. Kindly comment about fitness issues of players without thinking about future advertisement agreements with food chains.
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Apr 10, 2019 03:48pm
Coach getting run out frequently can fly for a bottle of drink, players become speechless or mesmerized during physical training in front of camera if drinks are there.
BIRYANI is a symbol of a wining camp. Please check our traditions before blaming our traditional food in front of JUNK FOOD.
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Apr 10, 2019 03:49pm
@Khurram, you need to educate yourself a bit more. No professional athlete would touch a burger, pizza and similar type of junk food with a 10 foot pole. Most athletes eat baked or steamed food mostly comprised of white meat (chicken or fish) and lots of veggies with little or no carbs (meaning almost NO RICE or BREAD).
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Apr 10, 2019 03:49pm
Cricket is western game hence not to worry.
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Apr 10, 2019 03:51pm
I am not surprised most of the comments here don’t see to see a problem with biryani. Pakistani people generally just don’t understand the concept of the link between strict long term diet control and athletic and mental performance. Virat Kohli has talked openly about how he takes his diet seriously and when he changed his diet it not only improved his fitness but his mental prowess. Kohli also said the process did not happen overnight but took a good few months. With Kohli the result is there for everyone to see. But here are Pakistani players having a bad diet a few weeks before an important match.
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Apr 10, 2019 04:16pm
Wasim bhai: our team is not interested in winning world cup....they just want to have fun in UK....
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Apr 10, 2019 04:16pm
I don't see anything wrong in eating Briyani, as long as there is portion control and regular fitness activities. One thing to avoid is the excess oil.
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Apr 10, 2019 04:25pm
Pakistan teams fitness level is bad. I agree with Waseem Akram. Living in Pakistan it's hard to control your eyes and nose. These Pakistani players need to be on a strict die and good fitness. Just like most other teams.
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Apr 10, 2019 04:34pm
@Khurram, Yes, no athlete eats pizzas or burgers when a tourney is around the corner.
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Apr 10, 2019 04:38pm
Amit is top talent. In my mind, he is this generation’s best bowler. His own country need to support him first though. He would be most dangerous on English pitches.
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Apr 10, 2019 04:45pm
He can talk, who sold the 1999 world cup to Australia
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Apr 10, 2019 04:49pm
let them enjoy good meal. nothing wrong with beef biryani and parathas. keep eating boys like no tomorrow.
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Apr 10, 2019 04:53pm
@jatin, there was cameras all over the place, what are you talking about!! Especially in the 92 series v England. Pak team used to rough up the ball by throwing on the bounce mostly..
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Apr 10, 2019 05:08pm
You are right. Monitoring of cricketers is very very lax.
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Apr 10, 2019 05:14pm
Please correct as far as my knowledge is concerned biryani is not junk foods.
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Apr 10, 2019 05:38pm
Eat to live not live to eat
Gordon D Walker
Canada
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Apr 10, 2019 05:45pm
Whatever you do , don't have Bob Woolmer's diet !!
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Apr 10, 2019 05:50pm
@Khurram, professional athletes don't eat burgers before major competitions. They follow a strict diet regimen, which doesn't include junk food. Biryani tastes great, but it is not a well proportion food, it's high in carbs and fats from excess oil. Biryani without oil isn't really biryani. :)
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Apr 10, 2019 06:13pm
Give them Tandoori Chicken and Lal Maas also.
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Apr 10, 2019 06:16pm
Inzamam favourite dish is Biryani,so the players follow him to remain in the team.
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Apr 10, 2019 06:19pm
@Khurram, you think cricketers eat burgers? May be a cheat day once in a blue moon..
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Apr 10, 2019 06:21pm
@jatin,
Pls. don't make fun of Wasim. He was one of the best bowlers in world cricket and co-inventor (with waqar) of reverse swing. And a thorough gentleman.
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Apr 10, 2019 06:28pm
Shane Warne survived on pizza and burgers
But he was a spinner...
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Apr 10, 2019 06:36pm
I agree with Wasim Akram . Correct diet and work out are the key to compete in sports of world. Specially start of season Every player should evulated and give proper direction. After all it's million dollar business now.
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Apr 10, 2019 06:40pm
Why India failed to produce good fast bowler because of lack of protein. A well balance diet is important.
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Apr 10, 2019 06:55pm
The current lot of players are not capable of passing the first round of the World Cup. Making excuses that diet makes them unfit is laughable. Talent is not in the team, just players inducted on nepotism and favoritism.
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Apr 10, 2019 06:57pm
@Khurram,
What's wrong with eating Biryani...Seriously...
Have you ever play any physical sport in your Life ????? Diet has lots to do with your performances on playing field, and Biryani is not a diet players supposed to be on, before a World Cup. And yes, other players, do not eat greasy food like, Hamburgers and Fries before any sporting event.
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Apr 10, 2019 07:00pm
@soothsayer, lentils and veggies are ok. So is the meat. Apparently , it's the carbs in rice that's the problem.
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Apr 10, 2019 07:02pm
Biryani helped us win the world cup in 1992. We should highly recommend Biryani and be aware of its value, it is the most complete form of nutrition.
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Apr 10, 2019 07:35pm
Biryani and similar comfort foods will give you pot bellied players. Spinners only.
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Apr 10, 2019 07:44pm
Eating moderate amount of rice(biryani) will not harm the chances of winning WC, Wasimbhai, you're a true legend,didn't expect you staring at plate people are eating.
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Apr 10, 2019 07:55pm
There are exceptions..who eat and drink but perform at highest level..
For the rest they need to follow a good diet..eat nonsense on Off days but before. WC be ready..
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Apr 10, 2019 08:31pm
Wasim Akram drank tons of Coca Cola from bottles with metal caps to make himself sultan of swing. There can never be another swing bowler like Wasim bhai as Cola Cola stopped selling Coke in glass bottle with metal caps.
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Apr 10, 2019 08:43pm
So what does he wants them to eat? Western food ? Next he may say that even fasting in Ramadaan is unhealthy, so none should fast . In my opinion his statement has no basis in science and reason. Biryani per say cannot be considered to be unhealthy. It contains good quality proteins (chicken / meat etc.) and carbohydrates (rice, oil/ghee etc.) There are many other factors which can affect the fitness and health of the individual, like the ratio of calories intake to calories spent ratio, proper exercise, other life style choices etc.A sportsman or for that matter anybody can eat only biryani every day and still remain extremely healthy , fit and strong by leading a healthy life style. The basic rule is that any food taken in excess of one requirements and leading an unhealthy life style affects the fitness levels.
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Apr 10, 2019 08:58pm
Without a doubt, South Asian cuisine is the best, but also the unhealthiest with large quantities of wheat and oil. Prior to any tournament or match, athletes should opt for lean, nutrient rich diets.
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Apr 10, 2019 09:08pm
@PakiSatani, oh dear. So how come the majority of his wickets were of top order batsmen where the ball is very new? Those wickets he took with the reversing ball, were usually seering Yorkers...Yorkers rely on pure pace and accuracy more than reverse swing. If you have knowledge of cricket, you will understand. Such as his wrist position and use of the crease for different landing points. I doubt you do though.
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Apr 10, 2019 09:15pm
Wasim should guide Amir and transfer some of his skills and secrets instead of making sweeping statements, after all he admired Amir a lot even better than him in beginning of his career
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Apr 10, 2019 09:29pm
Waseem just want to be in the news, for a wrong or right reason. He should be ignored completely. He is not making any sense any more. Hasnain is a wonderful bowler. That guy should be givin ful chance. He will prove himself as good value add.
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Apr 10, 2019 09:30pm
Pakistan has no chance of winning world cup with the quality of cricket ww currently play.
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Apr 10, 2019 11:33pm
@PakiSatani, so can you explain how he is one of the most potent fast bowlers in world cups? Do they have no cameras there?
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Apr 11, 2019 01:18am
@Khurram, Lets get real. Biryani has a lot of carbs and that's what he is complaining about. Let's show some respect, at least, when he has a point!
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Apr 11, 2019 03:45am
Mark Phillips, the winner of 21 Olympics Gold medals in swimming has the diet like this.
Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. Two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelette. One bowl of grain. Three slices of French toast topped. Three chocolate-chip pancakes.
Lunch: One pound of pasta. Two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread, plus energy drinks.
Dinner: One pound of pasta, an entire pizza, and even more energy drinks.
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Apr 11, 2019 04:43am
Wasim is 100 percent correct,we are living in cave era,as for M. Amir he is a class bowler and without him Pak has 0 percent chances of winning the world cup..well said Wasim Bhai.
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Apr 11, 2019 05:35am
I agree with Wasim, one of our cricket heroes!
Besides diet, focus, determination, hard work, and more importantly desire to win are required.
Sincere and caring,
Anwer Siddiqui, California USA
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Apr 11, 2019 06:52am
@Khurram, athletes in developed countries have a very strick diet which does not include burgers or the sort and high time we get out of this mimdframe
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Apr 11, 2019 07:59am
@Khurram, Apparently, you are missing the point here. I guess folks like yours are running the current PCB affairs and that is why you find Pakistani cricketers are the worst when it comes to the Diet Healthy.
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Apr 11, 2019 08:27am
@Khurram, you have no idea about the diet plan at top level and how fitness is co-related with the food intake.
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Apr 11, 2019 08:43am
@Khurram,
You need to do some research and understand what Wasim Akram is saying.
He is absolutely correct that a diet consisting of biryani is truly a poor choice of diet for an athlete.
Yes all the ingredients you mention are not meant to keep you healthy and fit but for lethargy, sleep and gaining weight.
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Apr 11, 2019 08:57am
I was always in awe of the one and only Waseem Akram as a captain, pacer, and batting. But I beg to differ wth the great one on : biryani - which eaten occasionally will not effect our unfit team, and M. Amir whose carrier as a bowler is no more.
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Apr 11, 2019 09:21am
Biriyani is our national food. Nothing wrong in eating tasty biriyani by our cricket super stars..
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Apr 11, 2019 03:20pm
The only reason I can think of is that too much rice at lunchtime does make many feel drowsy.
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Apr 11, 2019 03:55pm
Pakistan team should care about diet.Yes today i was reading a cricket website namely pslschedule.com
This site mention that pakiatan players did not doing exercise properly.
No diet plan.
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Apr 11, 2019 05:09pm
he is right the team must be fed salads and soups plus commando style physical training
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Apr 11, 2019 07:08pm
@Khurram, athletes from other countries dont eat junk to maintain their fitness, biryani is high in fat and cholestrol, and basmati grains which take far longer for the body to digest.
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Apr 11, 2019 07:10pm
Biryani or no Pizza - the players should refrain from junk food a month before World Cup as the fittest will survive a gruelling tour against some of the best in world cricket. The former fast bowler is right on the money about fitness or biryani eating players but Amir leading Pakistan is laughable bearing in mind his bowling is no longer potent which he once was- perhaps Wasim Akram should advise Amir to loosen the grip on the ball, which may change his cricketing fortunes.
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Apr 11, 2019 07:51pm
Please eat more biryani, looking forward to watching you all huff, puff and wheeze running between wickets!
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Apr 11, 2019 08:20pm
I read with great sorrow that our Pakistan cricket team players r fed on non nourished food. They r supposed to take part in world cricket for the country and they r fed with malnutrition food its a pity. They should be given good noourished food to keep them strong and fit for the ensuing matches. hk
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Apr 11, 2019 08:51pm
Out of all the shortcomings that the Pakistan cricket team is facing, if diet is the only weakness that Wasim Bhai can spitlight, then something is seriously amis.
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Apr 11, 2019 11:56pm
@Prateik, wonder if beef biryani can be made available
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Apr 12, 2019 12:31am
@Khurram, "What's wrong with Biryani? It's rice with meat, mostly chicken which isn't bad. "
Clearly, you have never been a sportsman at any level in any sport.
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Apr 12, 2019 12:37am
@soothsayer, "If our neighbors can become good competitors in this game after eating lentils and veggies why can't our team eat biryani?"
Pick up a science book and check the constituents of both your examples. Obviously, you have very little idea of nutrition, or elementary chemistry, for that matter. Which is not surprising at all.
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Apr 12, 2019 12:38am
@ossy, "Pakistan players (cricket, hockey or any other sport) need to understand what today's professionalism truly demands"
But, but, they're..."unpredictable". Isn't that what modern sports demands?
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Apr 12, 2019 12:47am
@Yousuf47 London , loosening the grip on the ball will make him slower than the pace he is already at. Plus he hasn't exactly got huge hands. amir is done and dusted.
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Apr 12, 2019 01:10am
Wasin is wrong. Pakistanis in general are tall, fair and fittest people in the world. We are mostly Arab descendants and are naturally very strong.
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Apr 12, 2019 02:38am
@Saleem Memon, so unbelievably dumb and ill-informed! Very funny though!
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Apr 12, 2019 08:15am
Wasim Bhai...as if you ate Pasta during your days.
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Apr 12, 2019 08:58am
Biryani is NOT junk food. Eating Biryani is better than burgers eaten by other players in other countries. You can remove them from squad if they fail fitness test but don't blame Biryani.
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Apr 12, 2019 09:17am
Biriyani is not Pakistani dish or origin.
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Apr 12, 2019 09:31am
@sk9595, And India should just focus on elections and not go to WC either.
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Apr 12, 2019 11:55am
Karachi King's
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Apr 12, 2019 12:12pm
@Khurram, Sir you being ignorant. ... and yes players in other teams keep their diet in check.
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Apr 12, 2019 12:51pm
Too much fuss about a Biryani ?.
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