Josh Philippe has shown his confidence in the return of Pakistan star Babar Azam ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He said Azam is a “world-class player” and will likely be included in the next match.
Babar Azam has struggled to find consistency in recent times. Since the last T20, he has scored only two fifties in T20Is. This year, he has scored 206 runs in eight innings at an average of 34.33, although his strike rate of 114.44 is a cause for concern.
Quiet start for Babar in BBL
Due to this dip in form, Babar slipped to 31st in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings. The drop comes less than two months before the start of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Currently in Australia for the BBL, Babar plays for the Sydney Sixers. However, his start to the tournament was disappointing, with scores of two and nine in his first two matches.
Philippe supports Babar
Despite the difficulties, Josh Philippe believes that Babar’s return to form is only a matter of time. The Australian keeper-batsman believes the Pakistani star has the experience to put in a strong run and rediscover his best touch when it matters most.
“He is a world-class player,” Philippe said about Babar as quoted by ICC.
“It’s probably a challenge coming to Australia and these bouncy surfaces. But a few games under the rug, a few more sessions, he’ll be just fine. His record is outstanding. I have no doubt he’ll be in contention in the next game.”
“Happy to play the role required”
Philippe is also aiming to impress the Australian selectors for a place in the T20 World Cup squad. The 28-year-old showed good form against India earlier this season. “I am happy to play whatever role is required,” added Philippe.
“I look forward to building a meaningful partnership with (Babar) and learning from him in the middle. He’s a really nice guy, and we certainly enjoy having him on board,” he concluded.
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