The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced padel as a compulsory part of training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. Players attending long training camps will now have to play the racket sport for 40 minutes every alternate day as part of their fitness routine. The move is aimed at improving agility, reflexes, stamina and fielding skills.The decision was made by senior selector and director of high performance Aqib Javed, who believes padel can help players become fitter while making training more enjoyable.“Many of our players are already playing padel sports regularly but had to travel long distances to the limited courts in their home towns. We have now built a padel court facility at the NCA for the players,” Aqib said, as quoted by news agency PTI.He explained that padel, a sport combining elements of tennis and squash, is physically demanding despite being played on a smaller court. According to him, it helps improve movement, endurance and overall fitness, making it a useful addition to cricket training.Aqib said the PCB wants the National Cricket Academy to become a place where players can develop all aspects of their game. Along with mandatory padel sessions every second day, the board is planning to add more sports and recreational facilities.The PCB intends to build basketball courts as well as an indoor hall featuring snooker and other games. Aqib also revealed that the academy has already installed an AI-powered bowling machine as part of efforts to modernise training.With these additions, the PCB hopes to create a better environment for cricketers to improve their fitness, sharpen their skills and prepare more effectively for international cricket.
