Pakistan’s batting coach, Mike Smith, has firmly dismissed concerns regarding the form of star batsman Babar Azam ahead of the tri-series final against Sri Lanka. Despite failing to convert his solid starts into substantial scores throughout the tournament, the former captain retains the full confidence of the team’s management.
The issue surrounding the marquee batter’s run drought resurfaced following Pakistan’s heavy defeat in Lahore on Tuesday, 27 October. In that match, the host side suffered their first setback of the series, collapsing to a paltry total of 110 runs. Sri Lanka comfortably chased down the modest target to secure an eight-wicket victory. Amidst the general batting collapse, Babar top-scored for his side with a resilient 29.
Across four innings in the current tri-series, the 31-year-old has compiled a modest total of 118 runs, without registering a single half-century. Whilst Babar has routinely looked at ease during the early stages of his innings, he has struggled to build the lengthy match-defining scores that have long characterised his career.
However, Smith remains untroubled by these statistics. Pointing to Pakistan’s dominant winning streak prior to Tuesday’s defeat, the batting coach emphasised that Babar’s technical application remains sound.
Speaking via the International Cricket Council (ICC) platform, Smith offered a clear perspective on the batter’s current phase. Getting established at the crease is widely considered the hardest part of batting, yet Babar achieves that phase effortlessly. Had he managed to push just one of those starts into a commanding century, the prevailing narrative would be entirely different. Elite international sport rarely guarantees peak results every time a player steps onto the field. Those who truly understand the game can see how cleanly he is striking the ball. A significant score is just around the corner, and the coaching staff hold no doubts about his underlying quality.
The heavy defeat in Lahore was largely engineered by Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka. Delivering a lethal spell across the opening and closing phases of the innings, the left-arm seamer claimed five wickets to break the backbone of the Pakistani batting lineup, handing Sri Lanka a convincing triumph.
Although an eight-wicket loss provides far from ideal preparation just days before a summit clash, Smith insisted the result bears no psychological weight on the impending final.
Losing a match against quality opposition in a high-calibre tri-series is a natural part of the game, as very few teams navigate an entire tournament without a slip-up. Tuesday’s result changes nothing regarding the overall ambition. When the final arrives, the outcome will depend entirely on which side manages the occasion better, absorbs the pressure, and executes their tactical plans under intense scrutiny.
Pakistan will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the decisive tri-series final on Saturday, 31 October, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
