Steve Smith's Bold Move Sparks Controversy with Babar Azam in BBL Clash

In a thrilling Big Bash League match, Steve Smith's decision to deny Babar Azam a single during a crucial moment sparked visible tension on the field. Smith's bold strategy paid off as he scored a record 32 runs in one over, but it left Babar feeling disrespected. The incident escalated into the dressing room, highlighting the competitive spirit of the game. Despite the drama, Babar is set to play in the next match against Brisbane Heat. Discover the full story behind this controversial moment in cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 18, 2026, 11:03 IST

Tension on the Field During BBL Match

In a recent Big Bash League match against Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers' Steve Smith revealed that Babar Azam was not pleased after he opted to deny the former Pakistan captain a single. This decision was made during the last ball of the 11th over, strategically aimed at maximizing the Power Surge.

This daring choice allowed Smith to score an impressive 32 runs off Ryan Hadley, setting a record for the most runs in a single over in BBL history.

Smith, who concluded the match with a remarkable 100 runs off just 42 balls, shared his thoughts with Channel 7: "I thought, 'No, let me have one over. I want to target the short boundary. I don’t want to waste the first over. I’ll aim for 30 runs in that over.' We ended up with 32, so it worked out well. I’m not sure Babar was thrilled about me turning down that single."

The incident led to visible frustration on the field, with Babar walking off after scoring 47 runs off 39 balls, visibly upset as he struck the fielding cushions.

As reported by Code Sports, the tension carried over into the Sixers' dressing room, where Babar expressed to his teammates that he felt "disrespected" by Smith's decision.

Maintaining strike during the Power Surge proved crucial, as Smith added 11 more runs in just three balls of the 12th over before Babar was dismissed on the very first ball he faced after returning to strike. The Sixers successfully chased down a target of 190 runs in 17.2 overs, winning by five wickets.

Despite the on-field drama, Babar has been included in the playing XI for the upcoming match against Brisbane Heat. However, his performance in the BBL has been challenging, accumulating 201 runs at an average of 28.71 and a strike rate of 107.48.

Following the match, Australian media reported that Babar was absent from the scene, while Smith chose to skip the post-match press conference, likely to evade further inquiries regarding the incident.