Will the Indian cricket board (BCCI) put into a system of conducting a compulsory fitness test for all the players in the Indian cricket team before every series?
As reported earlier, Team India will undergo a fitness test on June 6 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, but there are officials in the BCCI who are in favour of conducting such tests regularly before every series.
“A lot of the players in the past have struggled to cope with their fitness during important tours and so it’s not a bad idea of making the fitness test a compulsory affair,” a BCCI official told Drcricket7.
Earlier, the Indian team was picked by the selectors on the basis of their fitness certificates and there will be on change in that system. Even an additional fitness test was conducted on the unfit players to know the state of injury.
But from now on, if BCCI has its way, it may become a compulsory drill to avoid fielding unfit players. Sources said that Indian team is also going to be a part of a two-day camp at the Eden Gardens, starting from June 6 to 7.
Earlier, the team was schedule to leave for Bangladesh on June 7, but due to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, the Indian players had to delay their departure by a day. Sources said that there were security issues that led to the delay.
Sources also said that this delayed departure was also a good opportunity for the cricketer to assemble and do a short camp ahead of the series.
When asked if the team would have a camp before every series, a source said that it may not be possible all the time. But a short camp is always welcomed.
However, hectic schedule of the team has always deprived the Indian players of having such a preparatory camp. In recent years, the practice has been to mostly gather in Mumbai, which would be followed by a photo opportunity and a routine press conference before boarding the flight.
