LAHORE: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha says the National Cricket Academy (NCA) camps are not limited to on-field training as the players attend English language classes and mental training sessions aimed at preparing them for the demands of international cricket.

speaks Jio NewsAgha said the NCA camp focused on the all-round development of the players rather than their performance on the field.

“This camp is not just training on the field. We attended lectures outside the field as well. There are English language classes and sessions on mental strength. Experts have guided us on how to deal with stress and gain mental strength. All the aspects that a professional cricketer needs are covered in this camp,” he said.

Discussing fitness, Agha emphasized that it is essential for every professional cricketer to maintain the highest standard irrespective of the form they play.

“Though I play all three formats, my current focus is on red-ball cricket. Fitness is very important for every professional player, not just for playing all three formats. If you are not fit, you are prone to injuries,” Agha said.

“We are professionals, we are paid to perform, so it is our responsibility to stay fit. We have achieved what we dreamed of as children and now it is our duty to maintain the required fitness standards internationally. The Pakistan Cricket Board has adopted a strict zero tolerance policy on fitness,” he added.

Reflecting on the PCB’s pre-season camp, Agha lauded the initiative and said it allowed the players to improve on areas that are often overlooked during a busy international schedule.

“PCB’s decision to hold a pre-season camp is a good one. We play three formats so there is very little time. We have worked on different aspects of our game in the off-season. We have five Tests in a row, followed by two home Tests, so our preparation is focused on red-ball cricket.

Comparing the camp to previous editions, Aga explained that the latest program introduced new fitness assessments and a more demanding routine.

“There were new Tests which were not conducted before. The camp started at six in the morning and we spent the whole day together. We got used to fatigue, which is very important for Test cricket,” he said.

“Lahore weather is very challenging but as professionals we have to benefit from such conditions. Once you get used to them the weather becomes a problem. But the tough training here will definitely help us even though the conditions we will be playing in will not be as hot as in Lahore,” he added.

The all-rounder reflected on the personal improvements he had targeted during the training programme, saying he had placed particular emphasis on addressing weaknesses in his batting.

Although he has often made promising starts in recent innings, he explained that he wants to become more consistent by converting those opportunities into substantial match-defining scores.

“Personally I felt there were two or three areas where I needed to improve and I worked hard on them. I got good starts but I didn’t convert them into long innings. It’s not just my problem, it’s something other batsmen face. We’ve worked a lot on how to convert 60 or 70 runs into hundreds and then make them 150 or more.”

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