PCB Introduces Mandatory Padel Training for Pakistan Cricketers at National Cricket Academy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken an unconventional route in its pursuit of developing fitter and sharper cricketers.

In a significant overhaul of its training philosophy, the board has made padel a compulsory activity for players training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. The move is aimed at improving agility, reflexes, coordination, and overall athleticism.

Padel, a fast-paced racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash, is played on an enclosed court and demands quick reactions, rapid directional changes, and sustained concentration. Those attributes are precisely why the PCB believes the game can complement traditional cricket drills.

And as per reports, Pakistan's senior selector Aqib Javed has propsed Padel as the new method to enhance fitness of the Pakistani players.

"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," Javed was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Rather than viewing fitness as limited to gym sessions and running routines, the board is looking to diversify player development. Officials believe introducing alternative sports into training can improve movement patterns while also making practice sessions more engaging for players, reducing monotony during long training camps.

At the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, PCB has already installed a Basketball court and snooker board. They have also installed an AI-powered bowling machine, which will be used by the players.

Beyond the physical benefits, the sport is also expected to sharpen decision-making under pressure. The enclosed court creates longer rallies and forces players to react instantly to changing angles, qualities that can translate well to fielding, wicketkeeping, and batting against high pace.