Six Pakistan players miss training session ahead of Sri Lanka clash

During the session, Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, faced spin from reserve player Abrar Ahmed, showcasing good form and making frequent use of sweep shots

PHOTO: AFP

Several key players, including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman, chose to skip Pakistan's training session before their second World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka.

The practice took place at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground in Secunderabad due to the ongoing match between New Zealand and the Netherlands at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.

The absent players were Afridi, Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam ul Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz.

Grant Bradburn, the coach, confirmed it was an optional session that players decided to miss, expressing confidence in their individual preparation choices.

During the session, Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, faced spin from reserve player Abrar Ahmed, showcasing good form and making frequent use of sweep shots.

Shadab Khan, in the absence of other top-order batters, displayed excellent batting skills against a local left-arm spinner.

Media access to the training area was restricted for security reasons.