As many as five Pakistan players are reported to have failed their fitness test in the recently concluded five-match ODI series against Australia.
The Men in Green were whitewashed by 5-0 for only the fourth time in their history with Aaron Finch and his men coming up trumps in all departments.
To add insult to injury to Pakistan, five players including debutant Abid Ali have failed their fitness test according to a report by Geo News.
Abid Ali had impressed in the fourth ODI where he made his debut by becoming only the third Pakistan batsman to register a century in their maiden 50-over outing for the country.
Along with Abid, the other four players to have failed the fitness test according to the report are Umar Akmal, stand-in skipper Imad Wasim, young pacer Mohammad Hasnain and senior leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
All-rounder Imad Wasim too has failed his fitness test.
Imad had stood in as the Pakistan skipper in the fourth and fifth ODIs after an injury to Shoaib Malik. 18-year-old pacer Hasnain was handed his Pakistan debut in the series with the Quetta Gladiators youngster capturing two wickets in his three appearances.
Umar, meanwhile, had a high score of 48 in the five matches with the right-handed batsman also handed an official reprimand for a late night out on the eve of the final ODI.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was given four outings in the series in the absence of Shadab Khan but was unable to create the desired impact with just the four wickets to show for.
The team’s shoddy efforts on the field in the 5-0 drubbing is said to have concerned fielding coach Grant Bradburn with several catches put down.
There will reportedly be no compromise on the players’ fitness levels when the team’s World Cup training camp gets underway in Lahore. Pakistan are due to depart for England for the 2019 ICC World Cup on August 23 where they will first play a five-match ODI series along with a sole T20 clash against the hosts.
