Mitchell Marsh terms Babar Azam a "Challenge"

Speaking to the media ahead of the first T20I game against Pakistan, Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh said Babar Azam could be a challenge in South Asian conditions. 

Babar Azam Challenge

Responding to a question about Babar’s torrid run in the Big Bash League, Marsh said the right-handed batter is still a world-class player and has been so for a long time.

"It was great to see some Pakistan players playing the Big Bash; it brought a whole new audience, and I'm hopeful that they enjoyed their time in Australia," Marsh stated.

Babar Azam was directly signed by eventual finalists Sydney Sixers ahead of the draft. While he grabbed plenty of eyeballs during the tournament, his numbers in his debut stint were dismal. 

He scored at an average of 22 while striking at 103, before returning to Pakistan ahead of the Sixers’ Challenger game against Hobart Hurricanes.

"Look, as you said, Babar's been a world-class player for a long period of time for Pakistan, so we have great respect for him, and we know that in these conditions he's one of the best players in the world, so we look forward to that challenge," he further said.

Fine-tuning World Cup preparations

Australia and Pakistan will play a three-match T20I series to fine-tune their preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 in Sri Lanka and India. With injury concerns dogging them, Australia will be glad to give their replacements some game time.

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Australia tour of Pakistan, 2026 Jan 29 to Feb 01

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January 29, 2026 6:00 pm Upcoming

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