LAHORE: A four-week National High Performance Camp recently concluded here on Saturday at National High Performance Centre.
Around 30 players were invited in the camp where the players worked on their mental, tactical and technical aspects of their game with NHPC coaches.
The camp was devised to ensure international cricketers and top-performers of the 2020-21 domestic season who were not part of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 continue to train in a competitive environment.
At the conclusion of the camp, Saqlain Mushtaq – head of international player development at the NHPC said “We had a very good camp. We were given different pool of players – white ball and red ball, to work on them. Everyone really enjoyed it – the coaches, the players. Coaching staff was really committed to the players. We had one aim – to work in such a manner with the players that whenever they get an opportunity to represent the national team, they grab it with both hands.”
Mentioning about the objective of the camp, Saqlain expressed, “As our national framework is – country, team and me. Our country comes first, then our team and later ourselves. So we all are here to serve our country.”
Talking about the philosophy developed by the coaches, the former Test off-spinner said, “We have developed a philosophy, culture of “working together” between NHPC coaches and national team coaches. It was good learning for us (NHPC coaches) on how we can support national team coaches. When both sides of the coaches are working together, they sink together and they get to know about the working style of each other and it helps the development of the player.”
Mohammad Yousuf – former Test captain and currently working as batting coach NHPC emphasised on working on the basics of players in the camp. He while talking to PCB Podcast said, “In my one-to-one session with the players I tried to emphaise that the basics of the players were strong.
“We had good sessions on tactical, technical aspect of the player, how we have to play a match, how we have to make our mindset, with what intent we have to go in the ground. Overall, it was a great camp where we all get something to learn.”
When asked to comment on what work he is doing with Test cricketer Asad Shafiq, Yousuf said, “Asad Shafiq is in the camp, he is a Test cricketer, a seasonal player and playing since last 10 years and has performed in the world stage. Despite all that we are trying that the basics continue to improve.”
Asad Shafiq commenting on the NHPC camp said, “The camp was really good, it was a good opportunity for me to work with Yousuf Bhai whom I had worked during the previous domestic cricket season as well. We both have agreed to work on certain points and I look forward to utilise this time the most.”
Azhar Ali who is named in the Test squad for two-Test match series against West Indies in West Indies scheduled to take place later next month was also part of the camp. Sharing his experience in the camp, Azhar said, “The camp was really helpful, it had a competitive training session, the domestic performers were here. We had good practice sessions and practice games in the camp.
“We had motivational lectures which were very informative for young players. All aspects of skill session – batting, bowling, fielding, was covered which will benefit the players in future.”
When asked to comment on junior and senior players working together on their skills in the camp, Azhar responded, “Such camps are always very helpful when there is a combination of senior and junior players. It always energises a senior player seeing young players in the camp and it happened with me as well in this camp.”
Talking about the fast bowlers in the camp, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, bowling coach in the camp said, “We had a great variety of fast bowlers in the camp – senior like Mohammad Abbas and Anwar Ali and domestic performer Mir Hamza in the camp who have played Test cricket and young bowlers like Athar and Munir Riaz who have played one cricket season. It is going to be very helpful for the young bowlers to learn from their fellow players as well as from the coaches.”
Explaining the benefits of the camp, Rao said, “The camp is really helpful for the players as this is considered to be an off-season for them. They have now got an off-season four to five weeks’ camp where work has been done on their skills which will be very beneficial for them.”