Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is being backed to rediscover his best form ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled for February 2026.
Babar, 31, has struggled for consistency in recent times, having scored only two half-centuries in T20 Internationals since the last T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies in mid-2024. The dip in performance has also affected his standing in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, with the former No.1 batter currently placed 31st—a concerning position less than two months before the global tournament.
Currently in Australia, Babar is preparing for the T20 World Cup while representing the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League. His campaign in the domestic tournament has started slowly, with single-digit scores in his first two outings.
However, teammate and Australia batter Josh Philippe remains confident that Babar will soon hit top form. “He’s a world-class player,” Philippe said. “It’s probably challenging coming to Australia with these bouncy surfaces, but after a couple of games and sessions, he’ll be absolutely fine. His record is outstanding, and I have no doubt he’ll be in the runs next game.”
Philippe, 28, is also eyeing a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad and has shown strong form recently, including an innings of 46 for the Sixers against Adelaide. The right-hander, batting at No.3, is happy to adjust his role to give Babar space to regain confidence at the top of the order.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully putting on a big partnership with Babar and learning from him,” Philippe added. “He’s a really nice guy, and we’re certainly enjoying having him around.”
With just weeks left until the T20 World Cup, Babar Azam’s return to form could be pivotal for Pakistan’s title ambitions.