Sri Lanka batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who was recently criticized by head coach Mickey Arthur for his fitness and fielding, has hired the services of a personal trainer.

“I train 2 1/2 hours a day at home with my personal trainer (Nigel Aaron) and I am confident of meeting the fitness and skin-fold levels in 30 days,” the 30-year-old left-handed batsman said.

“I am also given a diet plan by the trainer. I don’t eat meat and I will be match-fit soon”.

Later, his trainer, added, “Cricketers not only need to be physically fit but the balance between the physical and mental strength should be maintained”.

“I can bet the players like Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy or the former players -- Graeme Smith, Shane Watson etc. had skinfolds above 100 but they are/were match winners and are /were in the team”.

“Bhanuka loves carbohydrate food and I have switched him to a strict nutrition plan. Yes, he loves chocolates and now eats dark chocolates without added sugar."

“Bhanuka may have run with the gloves on but I have never seen him being run out or even running out his partner,” the trainer added.

(Bipin Dani)