Pakistan World Twenty20 training sessions get tough

Pakistan's World Twenty20 squad has been hit by a spate of injuries during the rigorous training camp leading up to the tournament, but captain Shahid Afridi assures that there is "nothing serious".

"There have been a few fitness problems but it's natural because the camp has been tough so far. The boys are learning and I'm confident that our fielding will improve," Afridi told the News.

The Pakistan team has been undergoing strenuous drills at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, under new coach Waqar Younis, aimed at raising their fielding standards. Afridi hurt a finger last week, while Gul and Yasir Arafat sustained injuries to the shoulder and calf respectively. Fawad Alam also figures in the list of injured players.

Afridi is confident that they will recover well in time for the tournament. "Gul has a shoulder problem but I hope he would be okay in a few days while the rest of the boys should also be fully fit soon," Afridi said.

Afridi believes that the drills will pay dividends during the tournament. "There have been a few fitness problems but it's natural because the camp has been tough so far. The boys are learning and I'm confident that our fielding will improve.

He said that the team management had plans to ease off the training closer to the tournament, that begins on April 30 in the West Indies. "We will switch to lighter training in the final phase of the camp so that the players are fresh when we leave home to play the Twenty20 World Cup."

Pakistan will begin their title defence with group matches against Bangladesh and Australia on the 1st and 2nd of May respectively.