in high tension Big Bash League (BBL) The clash at the SCG on Friday, January 16, 2026, a tactical masterclass steve smith had a historic victory sydney sixers But obvious differences of opinion arose with his initial partner, Babar Azam.
Despite a mammoth 141-run partnership, the game was defined by a moment of friction in the 11th over when Smith refused to concede a single run to the former Pakistan captain to keep the strike intact. The decision proved to be a turning point, as Smith justified his gamble by bowling the most expensive over in BBL history immediately after the disagreement. What started as a tactical masterclass by Smith quickly transformed into an obvious result that saw Babar fuming both on and off the field.
Steve Smith explains the reason behind refusing to give strike to Babar Azam
The clash occurred in the 11th over when Babar struggled after three dot balls and attempted to rotate the strike. Smith adamantly turned down the single, ignoring the coach’s order to take the power surge early. Smith’s refusal was a big bet on his own ability to dominate over short boundaries, essentially sidelining the former Pakistan captain. Although Smith justified the move by hitting four consecutive sixes and scoring 32 runs in the most expensive over in BBL history, the humiliation left Babar fuming in the middle of the pitch as he felt his skills were being underestimated by his teammate.
“We talked at the ten-over mark, and he [the captain and coach] Said to jump straight. I was like, ‘No, give it a try.’ I want to kill at short range. I don’t want to spoil the first over. I will try to score 30 runs in that over. [I] Think we got 32, so that was a good result. I’m not sure Babar was very happy with my response to that single. Smith told Channel 7.
Babar’s angry exit after getting out and absence after the match
The frustration ultimately boiled over during the dismissal of Babar Azam, which many experts believe was a direct result of Smith being out of strike. After not getting a single run in the 11th over and being forced to watch Smith dominate the power surge from the non-striker’s end, Babar lost his rhythm and focus.
In the 13th over, facing his first ball after a strategic neglect, the Pakistan star attempted a tired looking shot nathan mcandrew But only managed to cut the ball back onto his stumps for 47 runs. His reaction was immediate and explosive; As he turned to go back towards the dugout, Babar lost his patience. He was seen angrily hitting the boundary cushion with his bat and remained angry after the match, completely skipping the traditional handshake and celebration and disappearing into the tunnel.
Fielding misunderstanding between Smith and Babar at SCG
The tension first became apparent during the fielding innings, long before the pair had even picked up their bats. In a sequence that divided the commentary box, a ball hit the gap between Smith and Babar; The Pakistan star stood still and failed to dive, leaving a stunned Smith watching the ball race away.
The very next ball fell at the exact same spot, but this time Smith made a desperate dive to stop the boundary. As Smith rose to his feet to pick up and throw the ball, Babar stood directly in his line of sight, causing one witty commentator to shout, “Get out of the way, Babar!” This moment perfectly captured the disconnect between the two, as it seemed like they were operating on completely different wavelengths.
