Interim Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald says T20 World Cup team is being built around skipper Aaron Finch

Interim coach Andrew McDonald has backed out-of-form captain Aaron Finch to lead Australia to this year's Twenty20 World Cup title defence.

The veteran opener is coming off consecutive ducks to end Australia's three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Finch also struggled for consistency in the five-match T20 series against Sri Lanka in February.

He will have one final chance to impress on Pakistan's soil when Australia clash with the hosts in a sole T20 in Lahore on Wednesday.

But McDonald, who played alongside Finch for Victoria, thinks the 35-year-old can bounce back to his best in time for the World Cup in Australia in October.

Finch has overcome numerous challenges and questions over his future during his career, only to respond and cement himself as one of Australia's greatest limited-overs batters.

«There's no conversation around the [possibility] that he won't be there,» McDonald said.

«His form can ebb and flow — like most players' can — and his ability to work through these patches has been significant in his career.

»We had the same conversation about David Warner leading into the T20 World Cup last year, so all these conversations are going to happen.

«Do we think he's still good enough to play this level? One hundred per cent he can.

»That's as simple as it gets for us and we're building a team around him as captain.

«It's a pretty significant pillar to be discussing about not being at the T20 World Cup.»

Finch averaged 28.68 in T20Is in 2021 — statistically, the worst year of his international career.

In five matches this year, Finch is averaging just 15.6 with a top-score of 35.

AAP