Khawaja amassed 383 runs in five ODIs in India | Getty Images

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has backed veteran in-form batsman Usman Khawaja for the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup despite the imminent returns of Steve Smith and David Warner to the national folds at the end of this March 2019.

In Australia’s historical win of 3-2 in the five-match One Day International series against India, Khawaja contributed 383 runs, including two centuries, and Ponting believes that the left-hander opener had earned his place at Australia’s World Cup squad through his India show.

While saying that Khawaja deserves a place in Australia’s World Cup squad, Ponting said he would be surprised if the 32-year-old overlooked for the World Cup 2019.

Ponting told reporters on Tuesday, 19 March, “I think we all saw over the last few weeks just how skillful a player Usman Khawaja is... and I think when you see him play like that it just makes you wonder why he doesn’t do it a bit more regularly.”

The 2-time World Cup winning Australian skipper further added, “I would be surprised if Khawaja wasn’t in the (World Cup) squad. Khawaja could probably slot down at three when Warner comes in and Steve Smith might bat at four or five or something just to shore up those middle overs.”

Meanwhile, Smith and Warner are currently in India for their stints with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) respectively in the IPL 2019 and they would be available for the Australia selection from the next month, as their ball-tempering bans end on 30 March.

Ponting signed off by saying, “(Smith) is still out on the field, so he can help Aaron Finch out. I’d imagine that Aaron Finch would be leaning on Steve Smith a lot for a bit of advice, maybe leading into the games, as far as preparation is concerned.”

(With Reuters Inputs)