IndiaThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has mandated that cricketers at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore include padel as a compulsory part of their training regimen. Players participating in extended training camps must now spend 40 minutes every alternate day playing padel, which the PCB claims enhances agility, reflexes, stamina, and fielding skills. The initiative was spearheaded by senior selector and director of high performance Aqib Javed, who emphasized that padel, a sport blending elements of tennis and squash, provides a physically demanding workout suitable for cricket training. Aqib noted that the NCA has constructed a dedicated padel court to address previous logistical challenges faced by players. In addition to padel, the PCB plans to introduce basketball courts and an indoor hall with games like snooker, alongside existing upgrades such as an AI-powered bowling machine, aiming to enhance player development and training effectiveness.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a sports-related initiative within the cricket training system and does not involve politically charged topics such as government policies, elections, or social issues. As such, it is considered apolitical and therefore leans toward the center.
