Star On the first day of their training camp at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ahead of their upcoming Test series against Australia, Pakistani batter Babar Azam was heard dubbing Saud Shakeel ‘Chota Don’ (Little Don). Three Test matches between the two teams will take place, with the first match scheduled to begin in Perth on December 14.
Babar brought some fun to the team’s slip-catching drills when the left-handed batter Saud Shakeel was given the nickname after he made a brilliant grab.
The term ‘Chota’ parodies the character played by Rajpal Yadav in the Indian film ‘Partner,’ alluding to the character’s little build.
From now on, Saud Shakeel is a chota don. Babar gave a new nickname to Saud Shakeel. 🥹😂#BabarAzam𓃵 #SaudShakeel pic.twitter.com/xcNRf8flkz
— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) November 23, 2023
Aside from the lighthearted banter, the former captain of Pakistan was seen taking part in warm-up drills. He was seen running quickly around the field with Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi. Even after relinquishing his captaincy, the 29-year-old batsman showed dedication by focusing on improving his batting skills in the nets.
The fast-bowling coach for Pakistan, Umar Gul, gave the media an update on Pakistan’s preparations for the forthcoming trip to Australia after the training session.
Our first day of instruction was today. We are getting ready for Australian conditions, and our team management and grounds crew have specially created pitches here in accordance with those specifications, precisely like the surfaces we will face down there. Our primary goal is to begin training in accordance with the local conditions there.” Gul was cited by Cricket Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has added Sameen Gul, Ali Shafique, and Muhammad Ali to the camp roster as additional pacers. When he revealed the 18-man Test squad for the Australia trip, Pakistan’s top selector Wahab Riaz had previously revealed the presence of seven more players in the training camp. Arshad Iqbal, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usama Mir, and Usman Qadir make up this additional group.
Additionally, the PCB decided to send pace bowler Shahnawaz Dahani to the National Cricket Academy for rehabilitation in order to expedite his quick recovery process because it was determined that he was not fit to bowl.
Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the members of Pakistan’s squad for the Tests in Australia.
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