The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today initiated an ambitious overhaul of its sports science and medical framework, aiming to combat high injury rates and enhance player longevity through a new data-driven system, according to its recently appointed Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Javed Mughal.
Central to this new strategy is the transformation of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) into a premier institution and an evidence-based research hub dedicated to studying and mitigating injury trends within Pakistan cricket.
‘Our vision is to build a system that is aligned with the best practices in the world. We want everything to be data-driven, from player assessment to rehabilitation and performance monitoring,’ Mughal stated in an exclusive interview with PCB Digital.
A significant policy shift will see the introduction of continuous player monitoring. Mughal explained that athletes will be assessed every few months to proactively identify and address physical deficiencies, moving away from a purely reactive model of treating injuries as they occur.
To implement this, a standardised testing system is being created for every cricketer. Acknowledging the particular fitness challenges faced by pacemen, Mughal confirmed that ‘targeted plans are being implemented to improve their physical capacity and resilience through specialised testing and training.’
The initiative also includes a significant focus on professional development for local personnel. ‘We are collaborating with experts from top-level professional sport to train our personnel, creating a pyramid structure where knowledge is passed down across all levels,’ he revealed.
The new approach will be integrated at the grassroots, with educational modules on injury prevention, nutrition, and mental health being progressively introduced to U15, U17, and U19 players to foster a comprehensive understanding of their physical requirements.
Mughal confirmed that these reforms are not limited to men’s cricket, noting that ‘similar frameworks are being extended to women’s cricket,’ with collaboration already established with the women’s team support staff.
Javed Mughal, a UK-based consultant physiotherapist with over four decades of experience, has been associated with Pakistan cricket since 2016, having previously assisted several national players with their rehabilitation.