Pakistan’s white-ball head coach says the ongoing NCA camp is designed to improve fitness, conditioning and technical skills ahead of major international assignments.
Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has highlighted the importance of the ongoing white-ball training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), saying it is aimed at enhancing players’ fitness, conditioning and cricketing skills ahead of future international commitments.
The camp, which began on June 15 at the NCA, features around 27 to 28 participants, including white-ball specialists, emerging cricketers and players identified for future national team duties.
Hesson explained that the first phase of the camp has primarily focused on medical evaluations and fitness assessments to establish benchmarks for each player.
According to Hesson, the extended training period provides a valuable opportunity to improve the players’ physical conditioning before attention shifts to technical and tactical development. He indicated that skill-based training sessions will begin alongside fitness work in the coming weeks.
Extended Training Block Offers Key Advantage
Hesson noted that modern cricketers, particularly those involved in multiple formats, rarely get uninterrupted periods to work on their overall fitness.
He emphasized that the current three-month window offers a unique opportunity to make significant improvements in strength, endurance and conditioning.
He credited Dr. Javed Mughal for introducing rigorous medical screening procedures and high fitness standards at the camp.
Hesson acknowledged that the demanding programme has challenged players but stressed that elite-level fitness is essential to cope with the physical requirements of international cricket.
Individual Development Plans for Every Player
The Pakistan coach revealed that every participant has been assigned an Individual Performance Plan (IPP). These plans are developed through meetings involving players, coaches, NCA staff, medical experts and conditioning specialists.
He explained that each player has clearly defined objectives covering technical, tactical, medical and fitness-related areas.
Hesson said the camp is being conducted with a structured approach and detailed planning to ensure meaningful development rather than routine training.
Focus on Emerging Talent and Asian Games Preparation
Hesson also expressed excitement about working with promising young cricketers, including recent Pakistan U19 players.
He said exposing talented youngsters to higher standards and competitive environments would help prepare them for future national team opportunities.
Discussing preparations for the Asian Games, Hesson described the squad as an exciting blend of youth and experience. He added that the camp offers an ideal platform to assess players, accelerate their growth and build a stronger talent pool with future global tournaments, including the next World Cup cycle, firmly in sight.
