Steve Smith Confident Of Injury-hit Australia’s Campaign In Champions Trophy 2025!! Supports Babar Azam

Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, will have so much responsibility on his shoulders for the Champions Trophy 2025, especially in the absence of their top three pacers and two all-rounders. The regular captain of the current ODI World Cup champions, Pat Cummins, will miss the trip due to injury.

Cummins picked up the knee issue during the home Test series against India and missed the Sri Lanka trip. Mitchell Marsh has a back injury, while Marcus Stoinis decided to suddenly retire from the 50-over format. Josh Hazlewood had a toe issue, while Mitchell Star pulled out of the event due to personal reasons.

Steve Smith confident on Australia’s preparations for Champions Trophy

Australia didn’t enjoy a great time in Sri Lanka, with two successive defeats in the ODI series as none of their batters could stand tall against the home spinners. They felt the absence of the top-class bowlers, especially in the death overs (41-50).

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“We are pretty much relaxed and preparing for tomorrow’s match. Although some of the big players are not playing in this event, we are doing our preparation.” Steve Smith expressed that he is stepping into the role as the stand-in leader of the side.

Their opening opponent of the eight-team competition will be England, who also are not in good form in the 50-over format, having lost the last series in India. The Jos Buttler-led side has lost all the ODI series since the end of the 2023 World Cup.

But Smith praised the arch-rivals, especially their strength in the white-ball format, and remained confident of the poms’ ability in ODI cricket.

“England is a good team, especially in white-ball cricket, we know what to do in the encounter against them. We will announce our playing XI at the toss.” Steve Smith addressed during the pre-match press conference.

Australia’s captain credits ability to handle pressure behind success in ICC events

The success of Australia in any ICC tournament is extraordinary, especially in the 50-over format. They are the defending champions of the World Cup, besides lifting the title in 2015. In the case of the Champions Trophy, they won the event in 2009 but didn’t win a single game in the next two editions in 2013 and 2015.

However, the New South Wales batter has attributed to the team’s ability to handle the pressure in an ICC event.

“I don’t know about the success mantra of the Australian team in ICC tournaments; I think our team handles pressure very well in this kind of tournament.” Steve Smith explained.

The veteran also shared his appreciation for Pakistan’s hospitality and the facilities at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

“Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is beautiful, and the facilities and dressing rooms are top-notch. Pakistan’s hospitality is very good, and the people and food here are amazing.” Smith highlighted in the presser.

Steve Smith supports Babar Azam to regain lost form

During Pakistan’s opening game at the National Stadium in Karachi against New Zealand, Babar Azam played a defensive knock of 64 runs in 90 deliveries at a strike rate of 71.11 in the 321-run chase. Many fans and pundits of the side slammed the knock.

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However, Smith has acknowledged Babar’s skill and technique, expressing confidence that the batter would soon return at his best.

“Babar Azam is a very skillful player; his technique is very good. He has not been scoring well for some time, which is part of the game. I hope he will regain his form soon.” Steve Smith concluded.