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'Babar Azam A Quality Player': Steve Smith Baffled With Ex-Pakistan Captain's Mention

Akshita Patel

Babar Azam's question leaves Steve Smith uncomfortable [Source: @SalmanAsif2007/X.com]Babar Azam's question leaves Steve Smith uncomfortable [Source: @SalmanAsif2007/X.com]

Australian captain Steve Smith found himself in an awkward situation during a pre-match press conference conducted before the clash between England and Australia in Champions Trophy 2025. Smith was asked to provide some tips to Pakistan superstar batter Babar Azam who has been in dismal form lately.

Champions Trophy 2025 is getting warmed up with an intense clash of the arch-enemies Australia and England set to come crashing down to floors on February 22 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

Steve Smith will captain Australia as Pat Cummins got injured and will not be available for the tournament.

Steve Smith responds to Babar Azam’s rough patch

Before the Australia-England match, Steve Smith turned up for a press conference in Lahore. Yet, when the topic of Pakistan's previous captain Babar Azam arose, Smith was put at ease no more.

This is because the question was unrelated to his team’s upcoming fixture. Regardless, Smith was kind enough to address the query and said:

"Babar is a quality player and has scored runs. He has a solid technique and has a good head on his shoulders. He hasn’t scored as many as he would have liked to in recent times but this happens with all the top players. He is a wonderful player.”

Babar Azam scored 60 runs in the previous clash against New Zealand. However, the strike rate of 71.11 doomed Pakistan as they failed to chase 320 runs and suffered a humiliating 60-run defeat.

Smith backed to open in Champions Trophy

Ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, Australia, cricket great Adam Gilchrist has proposed a dramatic change, making Steve Smith an opener. 

For Gilchrist, Smith needs to be given the responsibility of opening the batting along with Travis Head in a bid to make his maximum contribution.

Although Smith has been a middle-order bat predominantly in ODIs, Gilchrist argues that he has done a decent job as an opener in T20s and can be trusted to do the same job in the 50-over format too.