Five Pakistani cricketers fail fitness test during Australia series

By
Abdul Majid Bhatti
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Pakistan cricketers during the five-match ODI series against Australia 

Five Pakistani players failed to clear their fitness test as the team faced Australia for a five-match ODI series in Sharjah. 

Pakistan were whitewashed 5-0 by the Australian's, with sources informing Geo News that 5 of the 16 players failed their fitness test.

Players who failed the fitness test include opener Abid Ali, middle-order batsman Umar Akmal, all-rounder Imad Wasim, fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain and leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Abdi Ali impressed in his debut scoring 111 runs, however, in the next match he was dismissed for a duck. Ali along with Imad Wasim who led Pakistan in the last two matches in the absence of an injured Shoaib Malik are considered to be solid contenders for the World Cup squad.

It will be essential for Pakistani players to clear their fitness test in order to be considered for the team which will play in the upcoming Cricket World Cup.

The team also looked lackluster in the field against Australia with fielding coach Grant Bradburn concerned about the team’s effort.

In the fifth ODI, Umar Akmal, Yasir Shah, Imad Wasim, Haris Sohail and Muhammad Hasnain were seen misfielding.

According to sources, due to the standard of fielding in the Australia series, there will be no compromise on the level of fitness when the team starts its training camp in Lahore.