Babar was left frustrated after Smith denied him a single.
Chasing 190 to win, the duo added 141 runs for the opening wicket. However, a moment of friction unfolded in the 11th over, leaving the former Pakistan skipper frustrated.
After playing three successive dot balls from Chris Green, Babar drove the final delivery to long-on and took off for an easy single. But, Smith -- standing at the non-striker's end -- firmly sent his partner back, opting not to take the run so he could retain strike for the next over.
The move paid off in a spectacular fashion as the Australian star made the most of 'Power Surge', taking Ryan Hadley to the cleaners by smashing four consecutive sixes and a four in a 32-run over.
After the match, Smith addressed the no-single controversy, admitting that Babar was not “too happy" but his decision was purely tactical.
Reflecting on the BBL episode, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal said it was disrespectful to see Babar’s batting skills being undermined by the Australian.
“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.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, who was also part of the show, disagreed with Akmal’s opinion as he mentioned that Smith backed his action by hammering four sixes next over.
“Smith proved it next over. At one point, I thought he would hit 6 sixes in that over. He answered it na?”
Basit went on to say that Babar had brought it upon himself by his style of play, and namedropped Indian legend Virat Kohli as well.
“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,” he further remarked.
Akmal said Smith could have conveyed the decision to not take a single to the Pakistan batter, instead of publicly denying it.
“I am not discrediting Smith. Great player. Plays only Tests and then comes in T20 and does this. But Babar is Pakistan’s no1 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 stated.
The match-winning partnership was dominated by Steve Smith as Babar Azam fell for 47 in 39 balls with 7 fours.
Smith, on the other hand, went on to slam a 41-ball century, making 100 in 42 balls with the help of 5 fours and 9 sixes. This was the second-fastest century in BBL history, and he helped the Sixers win the game by 5 wickets in 17.2 overs.