Steve Smith Denies Single to Babar Azam, Creates Controversy in BBL Match

Navi Mumbai: A fiery exchange between Steve Smith and Babar Azam caught the attention of cricket fans during the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026, as Smith refused to take a single from Azam in a crucial moment, leaving the Pakistan star visibly frustrated. Smith later went on to score a record-breaking over, making the incident a talking point across the cricketing world.

The Incident
The incident occurred during the match between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. In the 11th over, Babar Azam attempted a single off Chris Green’s delivery, but Smith signaled him to stay put, explaining that he wanted to exploit the Power Surge—BBL’s special rule allowing two overs after the 10th over for aggressive batting. Smith then played a blistering 11th over, hitting 32 runs, which became the most expensive over in BBL history. Frustrated by the denial, Azam faced the next over’s first ball and was dismissed, visibly angry as he returned to the pavilion.

Match Impact
Prior to the incident, Azam had scored 38 runs off 47 balls, while Smith had already amassed 58 runs from 28 balls. During the Power Surge in the 12th over against Ryan Hadley, Smith smashed four consecutive sixes as part of his 32-run over. Even after initially refusing a second run at the end of the over, he eventually completed it. Azam’s dismissal followed immediately after, leaving him frustrated on the field.

Smith Explains His Strategy
Post-match, Smith clarified the reasoning behind his decision during the presentation. “After the 10th over, we discussed with the captain and coach to take the Power Surge immediately. I said, ‘Let’s play one more over; I want to target the shorter boundary.’ I didn’t want to waste the first over and aimed to score 30 runs. We made 32, so it worked out well. I don’t know if Babar was happy with my decision or not,” Smith explained.

Experts React
Fox Cricket commentator Mark W criticized Azam’s reaction, saying, “It didn’t look good. Whatever you’re feeling, don’t show it.” Reports suggested that Azam did not meet Smith immediately after the match on the field, although it is unclear if he later joined the post-match celebrations.