For the unversed, Smith didn’t take a single off the last ball of the 11th over to keep strike for the power surge, leaving Babar Azam furious. Smith said that he and Babar decided to take the power surge in the 12th over, with the Australian taking the strike. But when Smith refused the single to stay on strike, Babar lost his cool.
Smith smashed 32 runs in the first over of the power surge to justify the call, while Babar was dismissed in the next over for 47 in 39 balls, smashing the boundary cushions as he walked back to the pavilion. Smith, on the other hand, went on to smash a blistering century off 42 balls to take the to a five-wicket win.
Fox Sports quoted a report from CODE and stated that Babar was so upset with Smith’s decision that he isolated himself and did not come out to shake hands with the Sydney Thunder players. He told his teammates that he felt disrespected by Smith’s act. Sixers coach Greg Shipperd attempted to talk to Babar about the situation, but Babar was clearly frustrated by the developments. He did not even appreciate Smith’s miraculous effort for the team.
Babar Azam’s tantrums were not appreciated by the cricket fraternity, with many openly criticising the Pakistan stalwart’s act. “Whatever you’re feeling, you don’t show that,” Mark Waugh said of the boundary rope/bat contact. “It’s not a good feeling for the team environment.”
“Babar refused to come out and shake hands. He was gone for the night,” he said. “I don’t know where he was… it wasn’t a good look.”
Both Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist also sided with Smith while slamming Babar Azam.
“In team sport you have to make some decisions sometimes that individuals might not like, but Smith did exactly the right thing when you have made that call and smacked 32 off the over,” Vaughan said.
“And the first ball of the next surge over Babar got out and right in front of some young kids learning about sportsmanship and teamwork, he put on that display,” Gilchrist added of Azam hitting the boundary rope with his bat in frustration.
“That’s disappointing. He is a class act Babar Azam and he has been great to have in the tournament this year.
“He is loved the world over, so it is a bit disappointing that came through. But well done Smith, he absolutely nailed the right moment for his team.”