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As Australia and Pakistan gear up for their Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, December 26, players from both teams participated in Christmas festivities during their practice sessions on December 25.
In a touching display of sportsmanship, the Pakistan team celebrated Christmas on Monday by visiting the Australian practice nets at the MCG, where they presented gifts to the Australian players and their families ahead of the second Test. The Pakistani cricketers were seen handing out gift baskets and sweets to the Aussie players' children.
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Amidst these Christmas celebrations, a video showing players from both teams has become popular on social media. In it, Usman Khawaja's older daughter is seen giving a heartwarming hug to former Pakistan captain Babar Azam in the nets. Aisha Khawaja warmly hugged Babar while her father, Australian opener Usman Khawaja, watched on.
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Usman Khawaja is currently embroiled in a dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC) following their rejection of the Australian batter's recent attempt to express support for the Gaza victims during the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne with a symbol of peace on his bat.
Earlier, ICC censured Khawaja for donning a black armband during the Perth Test, following his earlier prohibition from wearing shoes with the messages 'All Lives Are Equal' and 'Freedom Is A Human Right'. On Saturday, the 36-year-old applied to wear shoes featuring a 'Black Dove With Olive Tree' design, but this request was also turned down by the ICC.
Meanwhile, following their overwhelming 360-run defeat within four days in the first Test at Perth, Pakistan have made changes to their squad for the second Test, including the addition of specialist off-spinner Saiid Khan to their 12-player team. The team also made a wicketkeeper change, bringing in Mohammad Rizwan to replace the experienced Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Pakistan's squad has been significantly affected by injuries since the Perth Test. Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad and their top spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Noman Ali, are all unavailable for the match in Melbourne. Mohammad Nawaz is set to handle wicketkeeping duties. Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali are being considered to fill Shahzad's role in the bowling lineup, joining seasoned player Shaheen Shah Afridi and the promising new talent Aamer Jamal. With Ahmed and Ali out of the picture, Sajid Khan remains their sole spin-bowling option.
On the other hand, Australia will field the same team which they played in the first Test against Pakistan.
Pakistan's squad for second Test: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi (vc), Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan.
Australia's XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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