Pakistan coach wants players to be fit

Pakistan's cricket coach Richard Pybus wants his players to maintain their fitness during off days and has given a 20-point advice chart to all players, an official said.

"Pybus has given all the players a 20-point advice chart and asked them to keep fitness during a period of five off days," assistant coach Sikander Bakht told SADA.

The Pakistan players dispersed after playing the Asian Championship Test against Bangladesh in Multan. They reassemble in Lahore for a camp starting September 6.

"I am impressed with Pybus' style; he is not only authoritative, but very accommodating," Bakht said.

The Pakistani selectors will name 25 players for the training camp ahead of Pakistan's Test and one-day series against New Zealand starting later this month.

"We will discuss the probables and will submit the names to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later this week," chief selector Wasim Bari said.

Bari denied reports that captain Waqar Younis and Pybus have given them 20 names for the camp. "We will announce the players, and not the coach and captain," he said.

Pakistan meets New Zealand in the first of the three one-dayers in Karachi September 19.

The two other one-dayers will be played in Lahore (September 22) and Rawalpindi (September 25).

The PCB is considering shifting the last one-dayer to Multan. The first of the three Tests starts in Peshawar October 1.

Mail Cricket Editor