In a bid to recapture past glories, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is taking a firm stance on player fitness. Following a disappointing showing in the recent ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the board is reintroducing the Yo-Yo test as a mandatory component of player selection.
Previously conducted inconsistently, the Yo-Yo test will now be a crucial part of a two-phased fitness program overseen by the new Director of Domestic Cricket, Khurram Niazi. Starting July 11th, the program will see nationwide testing beginning at the district level and progressing to the regional level.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has fully endorsed the initiative, making it clear that passing the Yo-Yo test and other fitness assessments is no longer optional. Meeting these benchmarks will be a prerequisite for regional contracts and national team selection, with no exceptions for Test or international players.
This renewed focus on fitness comes after former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez revealed a concerning trend during the Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn era. Hafeez, speaking on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, disclosed that the Yo-Yo test and other fitness assessments were disregarded under the previous leadership.
The PCB’s goal with the Yo-Yo test is to ensure Pakistani players reach the peak fitness levels seen in other top cricketing nations. This focus comes ahead of a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in August 2024, part of the ongoing 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle. Pakistan currently sits at No. 5 in the standings, while Bangladesh occupies the eighth position.