Multan Sultans pacer Peter Siddle has revealed having embraced his new “chacha” nickname in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying he is “foreign chacha” while Iftikhar Ahmed is “local chacha”.
Speaking to media in Lahore, the 41-year-old Australian pacer shared how the nickname was given to him by Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf during Big Bash League (BBL) and followed him into the PSL dressing room.
“As all the boys call me… chacha… so I know the new nickname,” he said.
“I think it’s just I played with Haris Rauf this year in the Big Bash at the Stars. So yeah, he was calling me that this season. So that stuck with me. And then the boys last night made me get a photo with Ifti. I think Nawaz loves calling me chacha. So, I think it’s going to stick. I’m the foreign chacha, and Ifti can be the local chacha.”
Literally meaning “paternal uncle”, chacha is used affectionately for players like Iftikhar Ahmed and Siddle, symbolising respect, seniority and a kind of endearing elder figure in the team. Fans and teammates use it to highlight their maturity, reliability and sometimes their humorous “family-like” presence in the squad.
Siddle has represented Australia in 67 Test matches, where he took 221 wickets. He also played 20 ODIs, claiming 17 wickets, and featured in two T20 Internationals, taking three wickets before continuing his career in global franchise leagues.
