Stay healthy to be wealthy is PCB's new mantra

Lahore, May 12 (UNI) Pakistan cricket players will now have to stay fit to earn more as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to link the contract system to physical fitness.

In a senior level board meeting, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf insisted that fitness will be a major criteria in evaluating the central contracts of the players.

''Fitness will be a major element in monitoring the new central contracts,'' Mr Ashraf said.

''I expect an improvement in the physical fitness of each player on a month to month basis,'' 'The News' reported.

The PCB is currently working on a new contract system which will be based on players performance rather than seniority, after the old central contract was suspended following Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup.

Emphasing on players fitness and work ethics, Pakistan's cricket chief said ''the players are professionals and the board expects them to behave in a professional way.'' The Chairman informed that the board will be closely monitoring the fitness levels of every player after a baseline physical evaluation was carried out recently.

Ashraf said that the team will have to improve on various counts especially in the fielding department.

Streesing on the importance of team work, he asked the senior players to give their ''hundred per cent'' to new captain Shoaib Malik.

UNI