Tensions flared between Babar Azam and Steve Smith during a recent Big Bash League (BBL) match between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, stemming from a disagreement over a single. The incident, which occurred on January 16 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, reportedly led to a heated exchange in the Sixers' dressing room and took a "couple of days" to resolve.

The controversy began in the 11th over of the Sixers' innings, during their designated Power Surge. Babar, who was batting at 47 off 38 balls, attempted to take a single off the last ball of the over, but Smith denied the run. Smith reportedly wanted to face the first over of the Power Surge himself to maximize scoring opportunities, particularly with the shorter boundary in play. While Smith's strategy ultimately proved successful, Babar's frustration was evident.

According to reports, Babar felt "disrespected" by Smith's decision. After being dismissed on the first ball of the 13th over, Babar showed his anger by smashing his bat against the boundary cushions as he walked back to the dugout. He also skipped the post-match celebrations and voiced his displeasure in the dressing room. Sources indicate that the situation escalated into a heated exchange, with Babar criticizing Smith's decision and expressing his intention to discuss the matter with the Sydney Sixers management and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques addressed the issue, revealing that it took a few days for the situation to settle down. Henriques explained that the disagreement stemmed from "a bit of a misunderstanding of cultures". He elaborated that what is common in Smith's culture was unfamiliar to Babar, leading to the initial conflict. Once the cultural differences were explained, Babar was "absolutely fine," and the two players "kissed and made up". Henriques also mentioned playing a role in mediating the situation after the game to help both players understand each other's perspectives.

Smith acknowledged that Babar was "not too happy" with the decision to deny the single. However, he reiterated that his choice was purely tactical, aimed at maximizing scoring during the Power Surge. Despite the tension, Smith went on to score a century, including four sixes in an over, after ensuring he retained the strike in the Power Surge.

The incident sparked considerable discussion, with former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal suggesting that Smith "disrespected" Babar with his actions. Akmal argued that Smith should have communicated his intentions to Babar beforehand to avoid any misunderstanding. Despite the initial friction and differing cultural understanding, the matter was eventually resolved, and both players moved past the incident.