Pakistan Batting Coach Backs Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman Ahead of Tri-Series Final

Pakistan batting coach Mike Smith has expressed confidence in Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman ahead of Saturday's tri-series final against Sri Lanka, saying he has "zero doubt" that both batters will return to form.

Key points

• Sri Lanka Crush Pakistan by 8 Wickets to Reach ODI Tri-Series Final.
• Looking ahead to the final, Smith insisted that Tuesday's defeat would have no impact on Pakistan's chances against Sri Lanka.
• Pakistan entered Tuesday's match with three consecutive victories in the tri-series, but their batting lineup struggled against Sri Lanka.
• Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in Saturday's tri-series final, with the team hoping its senior batters can deliver when it matters most.
• Asked whether Babar's failure to convert promising starts into major scores was a concern, Smith dismissed the suggestion.

When the team was bowled out for just 110, Smith defended the two senior players despite their recent struggles, speaking after Pakistan's batting collapse against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Asked whether Babar's failure to convert promising starts into major scores was a concern, Smith dismissed the suggestion. Pakistan Set Unwanted ODI Record Against Sri Lanka.

"Definitely not. The hardest part of cricket is getting yourself in, and Babar's doing that incredibly easily at times, " he remarked.

Smith continued that Babar had been doing a number of things right and was capable of producing a major innings at any time.

"If he had turned one of those starts into a major score, no one's saying a thing. That's international cricket. That's the top-end sport. You can't perform at the highest level every single time, " he remarked.

"We have zero doubt he'll be going big, and when he does go big, it'll be great to watch."

Notably, the batting coach offered similar backing to Fakhar. This person has struggled to provide Pakistan with robust starts in the tournament.

"He's a world-class player. Some players go through a period where they're not scoring as plenty of runs as they want to, but he's shown time and time again what class he's secured, " Smith noted.

"We have zero doubt that he'll come good for us. Hopefully he does in the final and everyone's happy."

Smith remarked Fakhar's ability to dominate matches once settled at the crease produced him a valuable player for Pakistan.

Assessing the team's overall performance, Smith admitted that Pakistan's batting unit was still below its best.

"We're probably batting at about, as a collective, at about 70 per cent of where we need to be, " he remarked, describing the situation as an opportunity for improvement.

He attributed Tuesday's collapse to a combination of poor shot selection and good bowling, acknowledging that Pakistan failed to build momentum throughout the innings.

Nevertheless, Smith praised the middle order for stepping up when the top-order batters failed to score runs.

"When the top order fire, and they will fire, that's a dangerous place to be for the Pakistan batting unit, " he remarked.

Smith additionally rejected suggestions that the pitches in Lahore were responsible for Pakistan's batting struggles, stressing that international players must adapt to different conditions.

"No, I'm not blaming the pitches, not the pitches' fault, " he remarked, admitting that Pakistan had not adjusted as well as anticipated.

"The fact that we've lost the game leading into the final is going to have zero bearing on anything, " he remarked.

"At the end of the day, it's a final, and whichever team stands up under the pressure is going to do well and lift the trophy."

Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in Saturday's tri-series final, with the team hoping its senior batters can deliver when it matters most. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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For now, pakistan Batting Coach Backs Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman Ahead of Tri remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.