Pakistan’s batting coach Mike Smith has expressed continued confidence in captain Babar Azam ahead of the tri-series final against Sri Lanka, despite the batter's recent struggles to produce significant scores. The final is scheduled for Saturday in Lahore, where Pakistan will look to capitalize on their strong performance in the league stage.

Babar, regarded as one of Pakistan’s premier batsmen, has faced challenges during the current tri-series, accumulating only 118 runs across four matches against England and Sri Lanka. This contrasts with his prolific form earlier in the year, particularly in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he was the leading run-scorer with 588 runs and played a pivotal role in Peshawar Zalmi’s tournament victory.

Since the PSL, Babar’s performance in One Day Internationals (ODIs) has been moderate, with 243 runs in seven matches at an average of 34.71. His Test record remains more impressive during the same period, having scored 405 runs in five matches at an average of 50.62. However, he has not reached an international century since November of the previous year.

Despite the recent run of low scores and an inability to convert starts into big innings in the tri-series, Smith maintained that there is no cause for concern. He emphasized the difficulty of consistently making significant contributions at the international level and praised Babar’s technique and timing at the crease.

“The hardest part of batting in cricket is getting established at the crease, and Babar is doing that effortlessly,” Smith said. He added that had Babar converted one of his solid starts into a century, the question of his form would not arise. “Those who truly understand the game can see how well he is striking the ball. We have zero doubt that a big score is imminent, and when it comes, it will be magnificent to watch.”

Pakistan secured their place in the final after winning three out of four matches in the group stage, setting up a high-stakes contest against Sri Lanka. Fans and team management alike will be hoping that the 32-year-old will rise to the occasion on home soil, delivering a match-winning performance as Pakistan pursues another title.