Former captain Babar Azam joined Pakistan team’s training camp for Australia series after relinquishing captaincy last week and made headlines for jokingly referring Saud Shakeel as ‘Chota Don.’
The Pakistan cricket team commenced its training at Pindi Cricket Stadium, prepping for the upcoming Test series against Australia starting December 14, 2023.
On the first day of the training session, various noteworthy moments unfolded at Pindi Cricket Stadium. During slip-catching drills, Babar Azam added a touch of humour to the proceedings by playfully nicknaming Saud Shakeel ‘Chota Don’ (Little Don) after the southpaw adeptly secured a catch.
Babar Azam praising Saud Shakeel as chota don😭. Agenda runner Karachi mafia in the mud!#BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/gYbe2Up7BY
— ZAINI💚 (@ZainAli_16) November 23, 2023
This character was inspired by the comedic character ‘Chota Don’ portrayed by Rajpal Yadav in the Indian film ‘Partner,’ with the term ‘Chota’ humorously referencing the character’s diminutive stature.
While the team indulged in light moments, Babar Azam led by example, engaging in rigorous warm-ups and even shared a brisk run with teammates Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan around the ground.
3 stars running together@babarazam258 @iShaheenAfridi pic.twitter.com/xPs2iWqIap
— Hamza Ijaz (@HamzaEjaz367) November 23, 2023
Despite stepping down from captaincy, Babar Azam showed unwavering dedication, focusing intently on refining his batting skills during the net practice, displaying his commitment to excel on the field.
Pakistan squad for Australia Tests
Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Australia tour schedule
Four-day match: PM’s XI vs Pakistan – December 6-9: Manuka Oval, Canberra
1st Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 14-18: Perth Stadium
2nd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 26-30: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
3rd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – January 3-7: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)
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