The match played between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder on January 16th in the ongoing Big Bash League, a franchise-based T20 league being played in Australia, has been the subject of much discussion throughout world cricket. While the match saw centuries from two prominent Australian players, Steve Smith and David Warner, it also saw the open humiliation of Pakistan’s star player and former captain, Babar Azam.

Several prominent Pakistani players participated in the current season of the BBL, including Babar Azam, who plays for the Sydney Sixers. However, he hasn’t yet performed particularly well with the bat. In the match against the Sydney Thunder, Babar was visibly angry when Smith refused to allow him a single while batting alongside him.

In the match against Sydney Thunder, the Sydney Sixers were set a target of 190 runs. To chase this target, Babar Azam was sent in to open the innings alongside Steve Smith. The duo gave the team a solid start, with Smith displaying his aggressive batting.

Read More: Watch— Babar Azam in anger swing bat after loosing wicket in BBL 2025-26 match

Meanwhile, in the 11th over of the innings, when Babar Azam tried to take a single off Chris Green’s last ball by hitting a shot towards long-on, Smith refused and signaled a power surge. Babar then became a bit angry, and Steve Smith smashed four consecutive sixes in the next over, scoring a total of 32 runs. This became the most expensive over in Big Bash League history. Babar was visibly angry as he walked off the first ball of the 13th over. Smith has now revealed the reason behind his refusal to take a single.

Steve Smith played a brilliant innings of 100 runs in 42 balls with the help of 5 fours and 9 sixes in the match against Sydney Thunder. He was also awarded the Player of the Match title for this innings. During the presentation after the match, Smith, in response to the question about the reason behind not taking a single, he revealed about his decision.

He said “After the completion of 10 overs, I spoke to the captain and coach in which they told me to take a power-surge immediately, but I asked them to wait one more over so that I could target the short boundaries, hence I did not want to spoil the first over. We scored 32 runs in that over, which was a good decision. I do not know whether Babar is angry with me for not taking a single or not. “

Watch what Steve Smith said

Speaking of the Power Surge in the Big Bash League, it’s a unique rule that allows the batting team to re-initiate a two-over powerplay after the 10 overs are over. According to this rule, while the traditional first six overs of the powerplay in a T20 match are four overs, the Big Bash League limits it to four overs, allowing the batting team to reinstate the remaining two overs of the powerplay at any time after the 10 overs are over.

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