Ponting backs Khawaja to make Australia's World Cup squad

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Ashes test match - Australia v England - SCG, Sydney, Australia, January 6, 2018. Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates after reaching his century during the third day of the fifth Ashes cricket test match. REUTERS/David Gray

(Reuters) - In-form batsman Usman Khawaja should be part of Australia's World Cup plans despite the imminent returns of Steve Smith and David Warner, former captain Ricky Ponting has said.

Khawaja struck 383 runs, including two centuries, in Australia's 3-2 series win over India earlier this month and Ponting is of the view that the left-hander opener had earned his place at the World Cup.