Pakistan Cricket Board: After the shameful defeat against Bangladesh, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing for changes. According to PTI, Pakistani players will have to undergo a strict fitness test before getting the new central contract. This rule will apply to currently contracted players and other international and domestic players.

The fitness test will be organized in Lahore from 6th to 8th September. The process will be monitored by white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, the team's physiotherapist and trainer. After this all the players will leave for Faisalabad for the Champions Cup.

A PCB source told PTI - The fitness test will decide which players will get contracts this year. At the same time, their performance will also be given priority. Both the foreign coaches (Kirsten and Jason Gillespie) have made it clear to the selectors and the board that their first criteria for selecting players will be their fitness.

PCB has decided to renew the contract with the cricketers. All domestic and international cricketers who are eligible for the national team will be tested for fitness. Cricketers who are now under contract with the board will also have to take the test. PCB will contract only those who pass the test for the next 12 months.

Recently, Bangladesh created history by defeating Pakistan 0-2 in the two-match Test series. Pakistani players and the board are facing criticism because of this. The source further told PTI - Gillespie was not happy with the fitness of some players in the recent Test matches played against Bangladesh and he believed that the players could not maintain their intensity and stamina during all the sessions of the Test matches.

At the same time, Kirsten had also expressed concern over the fitness of some players during the meeting with the selectors and board officials. He said- Fitness test will include everything to determine how fit the player is, gym training, stamina and running, yo yo and other tests will also be conducted. At present PCB has given central contracts to around 27 players. However, it is now believed that this number may reduce this time considering the performance of the national team in all formats in the last one year.