'If Kohli wanted it, even Steve Smith's father would have taken the single' - Former Pakistan batter's stunning take on Babar Azam's BBL fiasco

Steve Smith refused Babar Azam a single during the Sydney derby in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Friday, January 16. The former wanted to keep the strike for the Power Surge. This move from the ex-Australian captain has set the cricket fraternity ablaze.

Babar was batting in the 40s in the 11th over at a strike rate of around 120. He was denied a single by Smith, and this didn't sit well with the former Pakistan captain. The move, however, paid dividends as Smith smashed 32 runs in the following over, making good use of the field restrictions in the Power Surge. Babar did get the strike in the 13th over, but he was dismissed on the first ball. He even hit the boundary cushion with his bat to express his frustration.

During a discussion on Basit Ali's YouTube channel, Kamran Akmal said that Smith disrespected Babar by turning down the single. The former wicketkeeper stated that even if Smith wasn't interested in taking the run, he should have informed Babar beforehand. Akmal even suggested that the Sydney Sixers should drop the talismanic Pakistani batter if they are not confident about his abilities.

“This shouldn’t have happened. I understand Smith hit a fast hundred. He could have told Babar before that the ball ‘Don’t take a single’. Not like this. This is a disrespect. If Sydney Sixers aren’t happy with Babar, drop him. Don’t disrespect him like this. Make him sit out, only… But don’t do this," Akmal said.

However, Ali said that Smith's plan worked in the following over, as he took Ryan Hadley to the cleaners. The cricketer-turned-expert mentioned that Smith refused the single due to Babar’s prior image, adding that he would have never dared to do the same thing if he were batting alongside Virat Kohli.

“Smith proved it next over. At one point, I thought he would hit 6 sixes in that over. He answered it, na? If Virat Kohli had wanted to take this single like Babar Azam, Steve Smith ka baap bhi single leta! (even Smith’s father would have accepted it." Basit said. “You have brought your own value down with your game. Pakistan’s name is not sullied by this. People who say that are fools. Babar went to play Big Bash because he was invited there, but the Pakistan cricket board didn’t send him," Basit Ali said.

Babar's strike rate in T20s has been abysmal so far. In BBL 2025-26, the right-handed batter has 201 runs under his belt from nine matches at a strike-rate of 107.48.