Archive · 22 Jul 2026
PCB Mandates Padel Training at NCA
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided that players at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore must now play padel as part of their training.
Padel is a sport that combines elements of squash and tennis.
Players will have to play padel for 40 minutes every other day.
The goal is to help players become more agile, improve their reflexes, and enhance their fielding skills.
Padel is easy to play but physically demanding, which makes it a good addition to cricket training.
The NCA has built a padel court so players don't have to travel far to play.
The PCB also plans to add basketball courts and a hall for indoor games like snooker.
They have already installed an AI bowling machine to make the academy more useful for players.
PCB mandates padel training for NCA players to improve fitness and fielding skills.
Players must participate in 40-minute padel sessions on alternate days.
NCA has built a padel court facility for convenient training.
Padel combines elements of squash and tennis, requiring endurance and stamina.
PCB plans to add basketball courts and a hall for indoor games.
- Who
- Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and National Cricket Academy (NCA) players
- What
- Mandatory padel training sessions
- When
- Effective immediately
- Where
- National Cricket Academy, Lahore
- Why
- To improve players' fitness, movement, and fielding skills
Support for Padel Training
Potential Concerns
Benefits of Padel
Support for Padel Training
Padel improves agility, reflexes, and fielding-specific movement, making it beneficial for cricket training.
Potential Concerns
Some players might find it challenging to adapt to the new training regimen.
Accessibility
Support for Padel Training
The NCA now has a padel court facility, making it convenient for players to train.
Potential Concerns
Players might still prefer traditional cricket-specific training methods.
- Organization
- Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
- Location
- National Cricket Academy (NCA), Lahore
- Training Duration
- 40 minutes on alternate days
- Objective
- Improve fitness, movement, and fielding
- Initiator
- Aqib Javed, Senior Selector and Director High Performance
- Additional Plans
- PCB plans to build basketball courts and a hall for indoor games
- Technology
- AI bowling machine installed at NCA