Follow UsAustralian captain Steve Smith has urged Pakistan fans not to worry too much about Babar Azam’s form, saying he is a wonderful player.
The 30-year-old, who has more than 6000 runs at an average of 55.81 in ODIs, hasn’t been in great form of late. Babar has been getting decent runs but his strike rate has been a big concern.
Even in the first match of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pakistan were set a target of 321 and Babar scored 64, but it took him 90 deliveries to get those runs.
In the same innings, Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah scored 111 runs between them at a strike rate of close to 150. Pakistan fell short by 60 runs, and Babar was heavily criticised for his slow innings.
“Look, he's a quality player. He's had a really good career so far. He's got all the time in the world, the way he plays, he's got a solid technique. He's got a good head on his shoulders,” said Smith when he was asked to share some words of advice for Babar ahead of Australia’s first game of the Champions Trophy against England in Lahore.
“He maybe hasn't scored as many runs as he would have liked in the last little bit. We're all guilty of that at stages throughout our careers, don't worry, but yeah, look, he's a wonderful player.”
Pakistan will take on India in Dubai on February 23, and if they lose that game, the Men in Green will more or less be out of the tournament.