Misbah-ul-Haq modifies diet plans for Pakistan players: Details here
Pakistan's newly appointed head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has made a bold move to change the diet and nutrition plan of the Pakistan players. He has said that the players won't be given any heavy diet or meal during the domestic season, asserting that fitness is the primary objective to be eligible for national selection. Here are further details on it.
Following the announcement, a member of the catering team, managing food plans for the players in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, said, "No more Biryani or oil-rich red meat meals or sweet dishes for the players now." Moreover, Misbah has issued orders for barbecue items and pasta, along with lots of fruits, while the same diet chart would be followed for both domestic and national camps.
Meanwhile, a source was also quoted as saying Pakistan players have the tendency to eat "junk food and rich oily dishes", especially when they are not playing, and all that would change hereon. "Misbah has told every player that a logbook will be maintained on their fitness and diet plans, and anyone found lacking would be shown the door," added the source.
Pakistan's fitness issue first came into limelight during the ICC World Cup 2019, when former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticized skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed's fitness, calling him physically unfit. "He's the first captain I've seen who is so unfit," Akhtar had quoted in his YouTube channel.
Earlier this month, Misbah was unanimously appointed as Pakistan's head coach and the national selector by their five-member panel. Misbah had vowed to bring in strong changes in the squad, as he wants to make sure that the players who 'don the star on their chests' deliver, since it is a 'performance-oriented world'. Under his recommendation, Waqar Younis was appointed as their bowling coach.
Fitness is the key to success in any sport, as it plays a massive role in the performance of the players and the entire team. On the same note, the author firmly stands by Misbah's move to prioritize fitness, as unless fit, players have no right to call themselves athletes, let alone playing cricket.
