Former Pakistan cricketers Kamran Akmal and Basit Ali have reacted to the incident involving Steve Smith and Babar Azam during the Big Bash League (BBL) match between the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder. Akmal criticized Smith for denying Babar a single to keep the strike, calling the act disrespectful.
On Friday, Smith denied Babar a single just before the Power Surge. Babar had played a few dot balls and pushed the last delivery toward long-on, but Smith refused to run. Smith then justified his bold decision. He smashed 32 runs, including four sixes, in the next over to take the team close to victory.
On the first ball of the following over, Babar got out and walked off visibly upset. The right-handed batter hit the boundary padding on his way back to the dressing room. After the match, Smith admitted that Babar was not happy with the call.
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This Shouldn’t Have Happened – Kamran Akmal on Steve Smith Denying Babar Azam a Single
On the YouTube channel Game Plan, Kamran Akmal said that Steve Smith showed disrespect by denying Babar Azam a single. Akmal said that Smith could have informed Babar in advance. He added that if the Sydney Sixers were unhappy with Babar’s role, they should have rested or dropped him.
“This shouldn’t have happened. I understand Smith hit a fast hundred. He could have told Babar before that the ball ‘don’t take a single’. Not like this. This is a disrespect,” Akmal said.
“If Sydney sixes aren’t happy with Babar, drop him. Don’t disrespect him like this. Make him sit out, only. Team first always, if he isn’t right for the team, then rest him. But don’t do this,” he added.
Steve Smith Ka Baap Bhi Single Leta – Basit Ali Namedrops Virat Kohli
On the same show, Basit Ali disagreed with Kamran Akmal and defended Steve Smith. Basit stated that Babar Azam was responsible for the situation because of his slow approach. He added that top players command respect through their game, saying that Smith would never refuse a single for Virat Kohli.
“Smith proved it next over. At one point, I thought he would hit 6 sixes in that over. He answered it na?”
“If Virat Kohli had wanted to take this single like Babar Azam, Steve Smith ka baap bhi single leta!” Basit said.
“You have brought your own value down with your game. Pakistan’s name is not sullied by this. People who say that are fools (“Bewakoof”). Babar went to play Big Bash because he was invited there, but the Pakistan cricket board didn’t send him.”
Could Not Even Dream That Babar Azam Could Have Done What Steve Smith Did – Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal stated that he was not questioning Steve Smith’s intent to win the match. He acknowledged that Babar could not have played that kind of innings. However, he added that Babar is Pakistan’s number one player and a top-order batter, not someone who should be treated like a tailender.
“I am not discrediting Smith. Great player. Plays only Tests and then comes in T20 and does this. But Babar is Pakistan’s No. 1 player. He is very popular. He may not have the following of Virat Kohli but Babar has at least 50% of his fandom, Babar has. He has shown it with his performances.”
“I am not saying Smith was not thinking about winning the match. I couldn’t even dream that Babar could have done what Smith did – hit four sixes. Don’t think he can even hit three sixes. So, Smith proved it. All I just want to say is that Babar is an opener, not a tailender.”
“Not just Babar, but if it was any other top-order batsmen, I would have said. But I agree … in that over where the incident happened, Babar had three-four dot balls. If someone has three dot balls in a T20 cricket at that stage, who is to blame? Our best players aren’t showing the kind of intent that the local players in Big Bash show,” Akmal said.
Also read: ‘Angry’ Babar Azam cuts ties with Sydney Sixers after Steve Smith controversy – set to QUIT mid-BBL?
