Steve Smith backs Babar Azam to regain form

Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, has praised Pakistan’s Babar Azam, backing the star batter to regain his form ahead of their opening match against England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium. 

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Smith acknowledged Babar’s skill and technique, expressing confidence that the Pakistani batter will soon return to his best.

“Babar Azam is a very skillful player; his technique is very good. He has not been scoring well for some time, which is part of the game. I hope he will regain his form soon,” Smith said. 

Smith also expressed confidence in his own team’s preparations for the tournament, despite the absence of key players such as Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. 

“We are pretty much relaxed and preparing for tomorrow’s match. Although some of the big players are not playing in this event, we are doing our preparation,” said Smith, who is stepping in as the stand-in captain.

He went on to praise the England team, particularly their strength in white-ball cricket. However, he remained confident in his team’s ability, stating, “England is a good team, especially in white-ball cricket, we know what to do in the encounter against them. We will announce our playing XI at the toss.”

When asked about Australia’s consistent success in ICC tournaments, Smith attributed it to the team’s ability to handle pressure. 

“I don’t know about the success mantra of the Australian team in ICC tournaments; I think our team handles pressure very well in this kind of tournament,” he said.

Smith also shared his appreciation for Pakistan’s hospitality and the facilities at the Gaddafi Stadium. 

“Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is beautiful, and the facilities and dressing rooms are top-notch. Pakistan’s hospitality is very good, and the people and food here are amazing,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Australia will face England tomorrow in their opening match of the Champions Trophy, aiming to secure their first win in the tournament since 2009.