Terming Pakistan’s former skipper Babar Azam a “significant threat”, New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson Thursday said that his recent spell of poor form did not diminish his skill.

A day before the two sides set to face each other in a five-match T20 international series, Williamson expressed his confidence in Azam’s ability to regain top form.

Over the past couple of months, Azam has experienced a decline in performance across various formats. Despite entering the 2023 World Cup as the top-ranked ODI batsman, he only managed to score 320 runs. In the recent three-match Test series against Australia, Azam contributed only 126 runs, with an average of just 21.

During a press conference on Thursday, Williamson suggested that the form of any player can fluctuate but affirmed that Azam is a world-class player.

“He [Azam] is a world-class player. Cricket comes with a full range of feelings and emotions and part of it is navigating each day and looking to improve. He is one of the best players in the world and I am sure he will be doing that and that doesn’t change overnight. We know he is a big threat,” Williamson stated.

Azam, who resigned as the captain across formats after the 2023 ODI World Cup, will look to regain his form.

Williamson further pondered that Pakistan consistently presents a formidable challenge to the Kiwis and recollected how the Men in Green emerged triumphant in the tri-series preceding the 2022 T20 World Cup.

“Pakistan is always a fantastic opportunity. They are consistently one of the best teams in the world and in all conditions, so to have them to have them here in our backyard and having another contest is great. We played a tri-series series prior to the last World Cup. They won that and they obviously went a long way in that competition as well and so we know how strong they are as a team,” Williamson added.

Schedule:

1st T20 – 12 January 2024 at Eden Park, Auckland

2nd T20 – 14 January 2024 at Seddon Park, Hamilton

3rd T20 – 17 January 2024 at University Oval, Dunedin

4th T20 – 19 January 2024 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

5th T20 – 21 January 2024 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch