Former Pakistan cricketers Kamran Akmal and Basit Ali have reacted to the incident involving Steve Smith and Babar Azam during the Big Bash League (BBL) match between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. Akmal criticized Smith for not giving a single to Babar to keep the strike and described the act as disrespectful.
Just before the power surge on Friday, Smith refused to take a single to Babar. Babar played a few dot balls and pushed the last ball towards long-on, but Smith refused to take the run. After this Smith justified his bold decision. He took the team closer to victory by scoring 32 runs including four sixes in the next over.
Babar was out on the first ball of the next over and went away very upset. The right-handed batsman crossed the boundary line while going back to the dressing room. After the match, Smith admitted that Babar was not happy with this call.
This should not have happened – Kamran Akmal on Steve Smith’s refusal to give a single to Babar Azam
Kamran Akmal on YouTube channel Game Plan said that Steve Smith has shown disrespect by refusing to give a single to Babar Azam. Akmal said that Smith could have told Babar earlier. He said that if the Sydney Sixers were unhappy with Babar’s performance, they should have rested him or dropped him.
Akmal said, “This should not have happened. I think Smith scored a quick century. He could have told Babar earlier that ‘don’t take the single’. It is not like that. It is an insult.”
He said, “If Sydney sixer is not happy with Babar, then remove him. Don’t insult him like this. Sit him out. Always team first, if he is not right for the team, rest him. But don’t do that.”
Even Steve Smith’s father would have taken a single – Basit Ali namedrops Virat Kohli
In the same show, Basit Ali disagreed with Kamran Akmal and defended Steve Smith. Basit said that Babar Azam is responsible for this situation because of his slow attitude. He said that top players earn respect through their game and Smith would never refuse to concede a single run to Virat Kohli.
“Smith proved it in the next over. At one point I thought he would hit six sixes in that over. He responded to that, didn’t he?”
“If Virat Kohli wanted to take this single like Babar Azam, then Steve Smith’s father would have also taken this single!” Basit said.
“You have lowered your own dignity with your game. This will not bring bad name to Pakistan. People who say so are fools (“idiots”). Babar went to play the Big Bash because he was invited there, but the Pakistan Cricket Board did not send him.”
Never dreamed that Babar Azam could do what Steve Smith did – Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal said that he is not questioning Steve Smith’s intentions to win the match. He admitted that Babar could not play that kind of innings. However, he said that Babar is Pakistan’s number one player and top-order batsman, not someone who should be treated like a tailender.
“I am not discrediting Smith. Great player. Only plays Tests and then comes to T20 and does this. But Babar is Pakistan’s No. 1 player. He is very popular. He may not have fans like Virat Kohli but at least 50% of the fans Babar has, Babar has. He has shown that with his performances.”
“I am not saying that Smith was not thinking about winning the match. I could not even dream that Babar could do what Smith did – hit four sixes. Don’t think that he could even hit three sixes. So, Smith proved it. All I want to say is that Babar is an opener, not a tailender.”
“Not just Babar, but if it was any other top-order batsman, I would have said so. But I agree… Babar had three-four dot balls in the over in which the incident happened. If someone has three dot balls in T20 cricket at that level, then who is responsible for it? Our best players are not showing the kind of intent that local players show in the Big Bash.”
Also read: ‘Angry’ Babar Azam breaks ties with Sydney Sixers after Steve Smith controversy – thinking of leaving in the middle of BBL?