Nearly half of Sri Lanka’s national cricket player pool has failed to meet the minimum physical performance standards in the latest fitness assessments, raising concerns over the country’s player conditioning and preparation.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, only 27 out of 46 players who underwent physical performance tests in February achieved the required minimum benchmark of 17 points across five assessments. This leaves 19 players — or 41.3 percent — falling short of the required standard.
The figures have sparked concern within cricket circles, with the report noting that nearly half the national player pool failing basic fitness benchmarks points to deeper structural issues in Sri Lanka cricket’s fitness and conditioning programs.
Sri Lanka Cricket has recently tightened fitness requirements, making it mandatory for players to pass physical performance tests in order to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in foreign T20 leagues.
The move has already impacted several players, as the board looks to enforce stricter professional standards and improve overall performance.
In contrast, some players have successfully improved their fitness levels to meet the required standards. Maheesh Theekshana, for instance, achieved a score of 22 after shedding nearly five to six kilograms ahead of joining the Pakistan Super League.
Officials believe stricter fitness enforcement is necessary to raise professional standards and ensure players are physically prepared for both international cricket and franchise leagues. (Newswire)