“This is a disrespect” - Ex-Pakistan cricketers open up on Steve Smith denying Babar Azam a single in BBL

On Friday, January 16, during a BBL match between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, Babar Azam, a star player for Pakistan, became furious when Steve Smith was refused a simple single to keep strike for the following over. Babar played a couple of dot deliveries in that over before hitting the final one for a single, which Smith refused. 

Smith scored the most runs in BBL history—32—in the Power Surge, a two-over powerplay that the Sixers took from the 12th over, bringing the team within striking distance of victory. However, Babar was dismissed on the first ball of the thirteenth over, and in an attempt to vent his annoyance, he even struck the boundary cushions with his bat.

Steve Smith disrespected Babar Azam by refusing to give him a single, according to Kamran Akmal on the YouTube channel Game Plan. Smith might have told Babar ahead of time, according to Akmal. He went on to say that the Sydney Sixers ought to have rested or benched Babar if they didn't like his job.

“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.

Basit, however, said that Babar was to blame for the entire incident and even added that if Virat Kohli had asked for the single, Smith would not have refused the India star batter.

“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.

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