In a lively turn of events during the first day of the training camp at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan‘s star batter, Babar Azam, injected humor by playfully nicknaming Saud Shakeel as ‘Chota Don’ (Little Don). The jovial banter unfolded during slip-catching drills, where Shakeel showcased his skills with a well-caught ball, prompting Azam to humorously reference the character ‘Chota Don’ portrayed by Rajpal Yadav in the Indian film ‘Partner.’ The term ‘Chota,’ meaning ‘little’ in Hindi, playfully alludes to the character’s petite stature.
The training session wasn’t just marked by banter, but also highlighted Azam’s commitment to his craft. Despite relinquishing the captaincy role, the 29-year-old actively participated in warm-up exercises, including a brisk jog alongside teammates Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan. The focus remained on honing his batting prowess in the nets.
Umar Gul, Pakistan’s fast-bowling coach, provided insights into the team’s preparations for the upcoming Test series against Australia. “Today was our first day of training. We are preparing for Australian conditions, and just like the pitches we will encounter there, our team management and groundsmen have prepared pitches here specifically according to those requirements,” Gul stated.
The training camp saw an expansion of the roster with the inclusion of pacers Sameen Gul, Ali Shafique, and Muhammad Ali. However, pace bowler Shahnawaz Dahani was deemed unfit to bowl, leading to the decision to send him to the National Cricket Academy for rehabilitation.
Pakistan’s chief selector, Wahab Riaz, had earlier unveiled the 18-member Test squad for the Australia tour. The squad includes Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, and others. The team’s objective is to acclimate to Australian conditions, with a focus on practicing based on the specific challenges they may encounter during the series.
Amidst the cricket drills and intense preparations, Babar Azam’s light-hearted gesture brought a touch of camaraderie to the training camp, setting a positive tone for the upcoming series against Australia.
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