Pakistan Cricketers To Pay $500 Fine If Caught Sleeping Inside Dressing Room: Reports

Karachi: Any player caught sleeping in Pakistan dressing room will be fine 500 dollars, according to a new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) introduced by the team management, led by National Team Director Mohammad Hafeez. The implementation of the new SOPs will start from the ongoing tour of Australia, according to reports.

The decision comes after few players who were not a part of the playing XI used to take a nap in the changing room during the time of previous management. Based on a Geo Super report, the new rules have not been taken positively by some players.

While few supported Hafeez’s stance to bring professionalism in the dressing room, others complained about a player’s freedom. Some even expressed frustration and compared the regulations to that of an U-16 team.

Nicknamed as ‘Professor’, Hafeez emphasized that the SOPs are being put into place to maintain high standards during a crucial tour and also told the players to be on their feet all time when they are on the ground.

Trailing 0-1 in the series, Pakistan are once again on the backfoot in the second Test too in Melbourne. Australia lead by 241 runs at the end of third day’s play. Australia lost its first four wickets for 16 runs in its second innings but a 153-run stand between Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh had the hosts in a good position. Marsh was out for 96 and Smith for 50 to leave Australia at 187/6 at stumps.

Marsh fell just short of his fourth Test century after Salman Ali Agha hung onto a spectacular diving catch in the slips. Smith battled his way to his first test 50 since the Ashes from 176 balls, the second-slowest half-century of his career. Pat Cummins took his 10th five-wicket total in Test matches earlier to help Australia earn a 54-run first-innings lead.