Babar Azam 'Quite Upset' After Steven Smith Denied Him Single in BBL Sydney Derby – Henriques Reveals Cultural Misunderstanding

The Big Bash League 2025-26 has witnessed its fair share of drama, but few incidents have captured attention quite like the on-field exchange between Pakistan superstar Babar Azam and Australian legend Steven Smith during the Sydney derby between the Sixers and Thunder.

Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques has now opened up about the incident, revealing that it took "a couple of days" for tensions to settle between the two batting greats.

The Incident: Smith Denies Babar a Single

The flashpoint occurred during the Sixers' match against Sydney Thunder. With the power surge approaching, Smith had his sights set on attacking a short boundary. On the final ball of the 11th over, Babar knocked the ball to long-on, presenting an easy single opportunity.

However, Smith made the tactical decision to decline the run, wanting to retain strike for the first over of the power surge. The gamble paid off spectacularly for Smith, who proceeded to smash a BBL record 32 runs off a single over against bowler Ryan Hadley.

The Aftermath

The situation took an awkward turn on the final ball of the 12th over when Smith was initially reluctant to take a second run but eventually completed it. This left Babar on strike to face Nathan McAndrew at the start of the 13th over.

Disaster struck immediately. Babar, attempting an aggressive heave across the line, edged the ball onto his stumps and was dismissed for what would become a frustrating dismissal. His anger was visible as he walked off, striking the boundary marker with his bat in frustration.

Henriques Reveals Dressing Room Tensions

Speaking during the Qualifier final against Perth Scorchers, Henriques shed light on what happened behind closed doors.

"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."

The Sixers captain explained that the practice of denying singles for tactical purposes is commonplace in Australian cricket culture, but acknowledged that Babar may not have been accustomed to such decisions.

"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."

Leadership Steps In

Henriques confirmed that both he and Sixers coach Greg Shipperd took proactive roles in mediating the situation.

"[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."

Smith himself addressed the situation before the game against Brisbane Heat, confirming that the pair had moved past the incident:

"He's good, we chatted before. I thought he batted really nicely the other night, we had a good partnership and put on a few."

Babar's Difficult BBL Campaign Continues

Brought in as one of the marquee overseas signings for the BBL 2025-26 season, Babar Azam's tournament has been disappointing by his lofty standards. The Pakistani batting maestro has managed just 202 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 103.06 – figures well below expectations for a player of his caliber.

His struggles continued in the BBL Qualifier against Perth Scorchers, where Babar was dismissed for a duck off just the second ball of the Sixers' chase of 148.

The Bigger Picture: Cultural Integration in T20 Leagues

This incident highlights the challenges that come with integrating international superstars from different cricketing cultures into franchise cricket. What may be a routine tactical decision in one cricket culture can be perceived differently by players from other backgrounds.

The Sixers' handling of the situation – with open communication and mutual understanding – serves as a template for how franchise teams can navigate such sensitive situations.

Looking Ahead

With tensions now resolved and both Smith and Babar reportedly on good terms, Sydney Sixers will hope their star-studded batting lineup can fire in the crucial knockout stages of the BBL. For Babar, a return to form would not only benefit the Sixers but also silence critics who have questioned his adaptability to the demanding strike rates of T20 franchise cricket.

The incident serves as a reminder that even at the highest levels of professional cricket, communication and cultural understanding remain essential ingredients for team success.