Pakistan’s Babar Azam wasn’t in a good mood after his dismissal in the Big Bash League in the match against the Sydney Thunders, even striking the boundary cushions with his bat as he made his way back. The source of Babar’s frustration wasn’t clear but it might have had something to do with his strike partner Steven Smith turning down a single when the Pakistan batter had called for it.
The incident happened in the last ball of the 11th over when Smith turned down a single from Babar in order to be on strike for the next over when he opted to call for The Power Surge which is ‘a two-over period during which the fielding team is allowed only two players outside the inner fielding circle. The batting side can call for this at any point from the 11th over of their innings,’ according to BBL rules.
Smith would end up smashing four back to back sixes in the next over and raced to 88 runs as the Sixers were 141/0 after 12 overs in a chase of 189. In the 13th over, Babar was brought back on strike but he was cleaned up in the very first ball. As he went back for 47, the frustration was visible as he hit the cushions on his way out.
“Wasn’t happy, Babar.” 😳
Drama in the middle of the SCG after Steve Smith knocked back a run from Babar Azam, so he could take strike during the Power Surge. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/rTh0RXE0A5
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 16, 2026
Earlier during fielding, Babar and Smith found themselves at the centre of a rather hilarious fielding error.
The incident occured in the 16th over, in which Nic Maddinson lofted the fourth ball straight down the ground off Ben Manenti. Smith sprinted in from wideish long-off while Babar was closer at long on and the former seemed to slow down once he saw that the latter was closer. However, Babar never made an effort to stop the ball and almost jogged past it as it went to the boundary, leaving Smith holding his hands out in puzzlement.
There was almost a fielding gaffe next ball as well. This time, Smith did well to dive and stop the ball from reaching the boundary. He was well within control of the ball as it rolled in front of him but Babar started moving towards him to collect it. The Pakistan star made a belated decision to not do so and Smith in the end could make the throw without interruption. The on-air commentators made little effort to stifle their laughter. “Get out the way Babar!” said one of them.
