Former Pakistan captain Basit Ali has placed the onus squarely on Babar Azam after the now-viral “no single” episode involving Steve Smith in the Sydney derby, arguing the Pakistan skipper’s own approach invited the slight. The incident unfolded late in the 11th over at the SCG when Babar, sitting in the 40s at roughly a 120 strike-rate, nudged a ball to long-on and called for a single — only for Smith to refuse and keep strike as the Sixers geared up to take the Power Surge from the 12th over.
Smith’s gamble paid off in spectacular fashion. Targeting Ryan Hadley, he unleashed a record 32 runs in that over — the most ever conceded in a single BBL over — and would later race to a 42-ball century as the Sixers completed a 190 chase inside 18 overs. Babar, sent back and then dismissed on the first ball of the 13th over, walked off visibly irked, angrily thumping the boundary cushions with his bat.
The episode prompted immediate debate. Ex-keeper Kamran Akmal labelled Smith’s move “disrespectful” and argued the Sixers should have handled the matter differently.
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“If you have an issue with a player, drop him — don’t embarrass him on the field,” Akmal said during a YouTube discussion. But Basit offered a contrasting take, suggesting Babar’s current form and perceived vulnerability made him an easy tactical target. “Smith proved his point the next over — he fancied that matchup and exploited it,” Basit said. He added bluntly that if a player like Virat Kohli had asked for the single, “even Steve Smith’s father would have taken it,” implying that elite reputation changes on-field treatment.
Ali also defended the Sixers’ decision to play the match as they saw fit, dismissing suggestions that Pakistan’s cricketing honour was damaged by the incident.
Statistically, the episode underlines a wider narrative. Babar’s T20 numbers have drawn scrutiny this season — 201 runs at a strike-rate of just over 107 —, and critics point to recurring questions about his tempo in high-intensity T20 settings. Australian media noted both players avoided post-match media duties, likely to limit further flare-ups.
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In the cut-and-thrust of modern T20, split-second tactical calls often spark controversy. Smith’s ruthless choice changed a match; whether it also damaged decorum depends on which side you back — the man who refused the single, or the batter who expected it. Either way, the derby will be remembered as much for the on-field fireworks as for the conversation it triggered about respect, reputation and the ruthless pragmatism of franchise cricket.
