![Babar Azam was upset over the denied single for a couple of days [Source: @SaffronHawk/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768911167511_BabarAzamwasupsetoverthedeniedsingleforacoupleofdays.jpg?type=hq)
Babar Azam was upset over the denied single for a couple of days [Source: @SaffronHawk/x.com]
The incident between Steve Smith and Babar Azam during the Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder clash in the BBL 2025-26 made for big headlines. Steve Smith denied Babar a single on the last ball of the 11th over to take advantage of the second surge over. However, this did not sit well with the Pakistani star, who was visibly furious.
Speaking about the incident, Sixers’ captain Moises Henriques has revealed that Babar was very upset and it took him a couple of days to recover from it. He added that it was nothing more than a “misunderstanding of culture of each other” and that Steve Smith and Babar have made up once again.
"It took a couple of days for that to settle down. To be honest, think it's just a bit of a misunderstanding of culture of each other. It's a pretty common thing in our culture, and maybe for him (Babar), he wasn't used to it and didn't quite understand. Once it was explained to him, he was absolutely fine. They've kissed and made up, and it's two of the greats back friendly again,” Henriques told Fox Cricket.
Moises Henriques spoke to Babar Azam about the incident
Henriques, along with Sixers head coach Greg Shipperd, spoke to Babar Azam about the incident. The team skipper revealed that Babar was visibly upset, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"[We are] always trying to understand…we could visibly see he was quite upset with what happened on the field, so we needed to try and understand why he felt that way. Once we got to the bottom of it, it was okay," he added.
Meanwhile, Babar Azam has not had the best campaigns in his maiden BBL season. He was one of the most anticipated players in this year's edition, but has not returned the figures in his 11 appearances, having scored 202 runs at a strike rate of just 103.06.
That form continued in the qualifier game against the Perth Scorchers, where he was dismissed on a duck in the first over while chasing a target of 148 runs.
How the Babar Azam-Steve Smith incident transpired
During the game between the Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers, Steve Smith wanted to target the smaller boundary in the first over of the power surge, which is why he denied a single on the last ball of the 11th over. In Smith’s defence, Babar Azam had not been in the best form, while he was striking the ball brilliantly.
In the 12th over, Steve Smith smacked four sixes and a four, taking full advantage of the power surge. On the final ball, Babar called for a double, and Smith, even though reluctant, ran two, which meant Babar was on strike for the second power surge over.
On the first ball of the 13th over, Babar tried to have a go at it, but the ball took an inside edge and took his leg stump. He was enraged after his wicket and was seen smacking the boundary rope with his bat as he returned to the dressing room.
