Pakistani star Babar Azam expressed frustration during a Big Bash League match when teammate Steve Smith refused a single on the last ball. The incident occurred while Sydney Sixers faced Sydney Thunder, leaving Babar visibly unhappy on the field. Fans quickly shared clips of the disagreement on social media.
The situation arose in the 11th over, where Babar had played three consecutive dot balls and aimed to take a single to retain strike. Smith chose not to run, wanting to face the next over himself and target the bowler. This decision disappointed Babar, who had hoped to continue his strike momentum.
Read more: Babar Azam anchors Sixers’ thrilling 165-run chase
Despite the disagreement, Smith delivered a powerful performance, scoring 100 runs off 42 balls. He hit multiple boundaries and sixes, including 32 runs in the very over that caused the conflict. Babar scored 47 runs off 39 balls during the innings.
Steve Smith Knocked Down The Single To Face Next Over!!#babarazam #Babarazampic.twitter.com/g9qbSCuHvM
— usman (@Cricbyusman) January 16, 2026
Sydney Sixers comfortably chased down Sydney Thunder’s target of 190 runs in the 18th over. The team’s overall performance highlighted strong batting depth, with both Babar and Smith contributing significantly despite the on-field tension.
Read more: Babar Azam creates history, becomes T20I cricket’s run machine
The incident follows a recent Big Bash controversy where Melbourne Renegades’ captain temporarily removed Mohammad Rizwan for slow batting. The league continues to witness high-intensity moments and strategic clashes between star players.