CAPE TOWN: Cricket South Africa (CSA) will intr­o­duce fitness clauses into player contracts in the fut­ure in a bid to set minimum standards for selection, national team coach Mark Boucher said on Wednesday.

It follows a special fitness camp for four players held in January that cast their international futures in doubt, as well as fears that a strict 21-day lockdown in South Africa could leave a number of other players below the required standard.

All-rounders Sisanda Mag­ala and Jon-Jon Smuts, spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and fast bowler Lungi Ngidi were all placed in what was termed a special high-performance fitness and conditioning camp.

With South Africa in lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to a clampdown on exercising outside the house, Boucher admits players will have to take responsibility for maintaining their fitness levels.

“Guys need to keep up their fitness because we will be inserting new fitness clau­ses in contracts,” Boucher con­firmed via an audio statement released by CSA. “In the recent past we have seen that players who are not fit enough dont get selected. They are professionals and they need to do what they have to do.”

South Africa were recalled early from a limited overs tour of India last month over fears around the coronavirus, but Boucher believes that, so far, their plans have not been disrupted to a great degree by the lockdown.

“The plan was always to give the guys some time off to spend with the family. It also gives them the chance to get over a few niggles.

“The first two or three weeks is always key, to refresh physically and mentally. We have put in some programmes around the house for the guys to keep them fit and strong.

“They need to keep their discipline. There will be testing after the lockdown period.”

South Africa’s next assignment is scheduled to be a limited overs tour to Sri Lanka in June.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2020