Josh Philippe: “Batting with Babar was outstanding. He’s incredibly calm out there and kept me on track”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Australia cricketer Josh Philippe has recalled his time batting alongside Pakistan batsman Babar Azam during the recent edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), describing the experience as “outstanding.”
Philippe said the 31-year-old is “incredibly calm” at the crease and “knows how to guide you through different phases of the innings.”
He added that the Lahore native “keeps things simple” as well.
During BBL 15, Azam amassed 202 runs in 11 matches for the Sydney Sixers, which included two fifties, at an average of 22.44 and a strike-rate of 103.06.
“Batting with Babar was outstanding. He’s incredibly calm out there and kept me on track. He knows how to guide you through different phases of the innings and just keeps things simple, which makes a huge difference out in the middle,” Philippe was quoted as saying on Facebook.
Azam recently represented Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he made 91 runs in six matches at an average of 22.75 and a strike-rate of 112.34.
The men in green then took on Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series in Mirpur, but he was not included in the team.
Azam is now captaining the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has been in superb form, accumulating 588 runs in 10 games, which includes two centuries and three fifties, at an average of 84 and a strike-rate of 146.26.
The Zalmi are through to the PSL final and will take on the Hyderabad Kingsmen on May 3 in Lahore.
After this, Azam will represent Pakistan in their two-Test series against Bangladesh, which will be held in Mirpur and Sylhet from May 8 to 20.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi