Naseem Shah voiced the need for rest and recovery periods for players, which are not typically promoted in Pakistan.
Pakistani fast bowler Naseem Shah, returning from a five-month injury layoff, has highlighted the lack of a proper workload management system in Pakistan cricket, attributing it to a “fear culture” among players.
Shah, who underwent surgery after injuring his shoulder during the Asia Cup last year, missed the ODI World Cup and subsequent tours to Australia and New Zealand. He emphasized the importance of managing workloads for fast bowlers, given the demanding cricketing schedule.
“Managing the workload is obvious nowadays because of the schedule and travel, especially for fast bowlers,” he told CricWick. “You keep playing and playing, but you are a human and your body gets tired, and that’s why you get injured,” he added.
Shah then, revealed the challenges faced by Pakistani fast bowlers, “Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the case is different. Here, the situation is such that if a newcomer performs in one game, the main bowlers are afraid of their place in the XI and wonder if they will be retained for the next game. That fear doesn’t allow players to rest because sometimes when you rest, your career can end up resting in peace.”
Shah further explained the prevailing culture that discourages players from seeking voluntary rest, “There’s also a fear among players and our culture is such that if we say our bodies aren’t 100 percent or we are tired, there will be a lot of chatter about our commitment towards playing. Even the players start talking about you, so you don’t take rest voluntarily.”
“The way to avoid that could be if the physio or bowling coach pre-decides the number of games you will play in a series. It will always be better. It [workload management] should happen, but it is not in our culture,” concluded Shah, highlighting the need for a shift in mindset as well as in workload management within Pakistan cricket.
Last Updated on March 7, 2024
