SA to put fitness clauses into contracts

|| Desk Report ||

Cricket South Africa will introduce fitness clauses into player contracts in the future in a bid to set minimum standards for selection, national team coach Mark Boucher said Wednesday.

It follows a special fitness camp for four players held in January that cast their international futures in doubt, as well as fears that a strict 21-day lockdown in South Africa could leave a number of other players below the required standard.

All-rounders Sisanda Magala and Jon-Jon Smuts, spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and fast bowler Lungi Ngidi were all placed in what was termed a special “high-performance fitness and conditioning camp”.

With South Africa in lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has led to a clampdown on exercizing outside the house, Boucher admits players will have to take responsibility for maintaining their fitness levels.

South Africa were recalled early from a limited-overs tour of India last month over fears around the coronavirus, but Boucher believes that, so far, their plans have not been disrupted to a great degree by the lockdown.

South Africa’s next assignment is scheduled to be a limited overs tour to Sri Lanka in June.