The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is implementing stringent fitness assessments as a prerequisite for awarding central contracts for the upcoming year, following a disappointing 2-0 Test series defeat to Bangladesh. The tests, scheduled from September 6 to 8 in Lahore, will include both currently contracted players and others from international and domestic backgrounds, overseen by head coach Gary Kirsten and the team's fitness staff. Performance metrics will be considered alongside fitness, which has been emphasized as a primary criterion by both Kirsten and co-coach Jason Gillespie, who expressed concerns about players' fitness levels during recent matches. The new fitness benchmarks have been raised to a passing score of 60%, requiring players to complete a 2-kilometer run in under eight minutes and other physical challenges. Currently, 27 players hold central contracts, but this number is expected to decrease based on performance evaluations. The players will subsequently participate in the Champions Cup after completing their fitness tests.