Big Shame for Babar Azam in BBL 2025-26! Steve Smith denies him single due to THIS shocking reason

Babar Azam was visibly upset as the Australian star denied him a strike.

Babar Azam’s frustration was clearly visible during the Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder Big Bash League 2025-26 clash. This happened after Steve Smith denied him a single and went on to smash four consecutive sixes in a stunning over.

The incident quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the match, with cameras catching Babar walking off angrily just moments later. Chasing a target of 190, the Sixers were in a comfortable position with Babar and Smith opening the innings.

While Smith started steadily, Babar struggled to find rhythm and managed only 17 runs from his last 20 deliveries. By the end of the 10th over, the Sixers were cruising at 107 without loss, and the team management suggested taking the Power Surge immediately.

Steve Smith’s call leaves Babar Azam sidelined and visibly angry

To ensure he was on strike for the Power Surge, Smith denied Babar a single on the last ball of the 11th over after Babar pushed Chris Green to long-on. The move visibly frustrated the Pakistan batter, who was hoping to rotate strike and continue building his innings.

With Babar stranded at the non-striker’s end, Smith then tore into Ryan Hadley in the 12th over, smashing four sixes in a row. The over also included a no-ball cut for four, a wide, and a double, making it a 32-run over, the most expensive in BBL history.

While Smith celebrated, Babar’s body language told a different story. The Pakistan star looked visibly annoyed at being denied the strike, especially as he had waited patiently to build his innings.

His frustration only grew when he was dismissed on the very first ball of the next over. Babar was clearly frustrated, shaking his head and slamming his bat as he walked back towards the pavilion.

As Smith later revealed, “At the 10-over mark, they asked me to take the power surge. I told him to give me one more over; I’d take it on the short boundary and go for 30 runs. We got 32 of that. Not sure Babar Azam was happy with me for turning down that single.”

The contrast between the two batters was striking. Smith went on to complete his hundred off just 41 balls, registering the joint-second-fastest century in BBL history. It was his fourth hundred and third fifty in his last 10 BBL innings, underlining his red-hot form.

For Babar, though, it was a forgettable outing. The decision to deny him the single, followed by his immediate dismissal, left fans speculating about his reaction and mental state. Social media quickly lit up with clips of his angry walk back, with many sympathising with the star batter.

Despite losing five wickets in four overs later in the chase, the Sixers crossed the line with 16 balls to spare, keeping their top-two hopes alive. But beyond the result, the night belonged to Smith’s audacity and Babar Azam’s visible fury, a moment that will be remembered as much for the drama as for the six-hitting spectacle.

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