The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has mandated that national cricketers training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore must participate in regular padel sessions as part of a broader push to improve athlete fitness and fielding agility. Aaqib Javed, the PCB’s high-performance director, confirmed the integration of the racket sport into the team’s official training regimen, citing its effectiveness in developing movement patterns necessary for modern cricket.
The initiative requires players to engage in approximately 40 minutes of padel every alternate day during extended training camps. By installing dedicated courts directly within the NCA premises, the board aims to provide a more efficient training environment, allowing athletes to focus on physical conditioning and mental refreshment without the logistical burden of traveling to external venues.
Pakistan cricketers required to play padel during long training camps (Aaqib Javed) pic.twitter.com/6xbwCBCRZv— Mian Ahmad (@aHmADmIaN150) July 15, 2026
Integrating Padel into Cricket Training Routines
The decision to formalize padel as a training tool follows a period of intense focus on discipline and physical standards within the Pakistan men’s cricket setup. According to statements provided by Aaqib Javed to Geo News, the sport was selected because of its high-intensity nature and the specific physical demands it places on players. Unlike traditional gym-based conditioning, padel requires rapid lateral movement, explosive acceleration, and constant hand-eye coordination—all of which the PCB believes translate directly to improved performance in the field.
“The PCB had introduced padel courts at the National Cricket Academy to ensure players had access to modern training and recreational facilities without leaving the premises,” Aaqib stated. He emphasized that while cricket remains the primary focus, the introduction of secondary sports is intended to create a more productive environment during the long, often taxing, duration of modern training camps. This approach mirrors previous strategies used by various international cricket boards to incorporate sports like football into training cycles to keep players engaged and physically sharp.
Addressing Fitness and Mental Fatigue
A recurring challenge in international cricket is the maintenance of both physical endurance and mental freshness throughout long domestic and international seasons. The PCB’s decision to mandate padel is framed as a solution to prevent the monotony that can set in during multi-week residency camps. By diversifying the athletic workload, the board hopes to reduce the risk of burnout while simultaneously sharpening the reflexes required for high-level fielding.
Aaqib Javed noted that the inclusion of the sport is not merely recreational but a strategic choice for overall player development. The ability to switch between the technical requirements of cricket and the fast-paced, reactive nature of padel is designed to help players maintain peak condition.
Future Training Expectations for Players
Fans and observers interested in the progress of the national team’s fitness development can look to official PCB announcements for updates on how these new protocols are influencing team performance on the field. We encourage readers to share their thoughts on this new training approach in the comments section below.
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