With Australia and Pakistan set to take on each other in Boxing Day Test at iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, players from both sides graced Christmas celebration during their training sessions.
In a heartwarming gesture, Pakistan players celebrated Christmas on Monday by visiting Australian nets at MCG and presented Aussie players and their families gifts as both sides prepare for 2nd Test.
Pakistan cricketers were seen carrying gift caskets and candies for the children of Aussie players. Amid the Christmas celebration among players from both teams, the video has gone viral on social media, wherein Usman Khawaja's elder daughter was seen hugging former Pakistan captain Babar Azam in the nets.
Aisha Khawaja was gracefully giving a hug to Babar Azam as Australian opener looked on.
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Usman Khawaja is currently at the loggerheads with International Cricket Council (ICC) after the world's cricket governing body rejected Australian batter's latest gesture to show his solidarity with victims of Gaza for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne.
ICC reprimanded Khawaja for wearing black armband during the Perth Test after he was debarred from wearing 'All Lives Are Equal' and 'Freedom Is A Human Right' shoes. On Saturday, the 36-year-old submitted an application to the board to wear 'Black Dove With Olive Tree' shoes, which was later rejected.
Australia's Playing XI unchanged
Australia will go ahead with the same playing XI who helped the side to win the first Test by 360 runs against Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth. There were reports that Scott Boland will play the second Test, but the hosts resisted the temptation of adding him to the playing XI.
Meanwhile, Pakistan released a 12-man squad for the MCG Test. Mohammed Rizwan has been added to the squad by replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed. Noman Ali has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series and Sajad Khan likely to feature in the playing XI.
The MCG Test will see free heart tests for people coming to watch the match at the venue as tribute to Australian spin bowling legend late Shane Warne, who passed away last year in Thailand.
