While chasing the target of 190 runs against Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League on Friday, Steve Smith and Babar Azam made a partnership of 141 runs for the first wicket. On one hand, Smith played a stormy innings, while on the other hand, Babar’s strike rate remained under question. But the biggest uproar happened when Smith did not take a run which could have been easily done with Babar, after which Babar, who was out, expressed his anger by hitting the bat on the boundary line. On this, former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali said a big thing giving the example of Virat Kohli.

Babar Azam, playing for Sydney Sixers, scored 47 runs in 39 balls, hit 7 fours but did not hit a single six. Lalchan Shaw, who scored 13 runs, also hit 1 six and Jack Edwards, who scored 17 runs, also hit 2 sixes. Steve Smith scored 100 runs in 42 balls with the help of 9 sixes and 5 fours at a strike rate of 238. Smith probably did not take the single considering Babar’s strike rate (120.51).

Pakistanis angry at the insult of Babar Azam

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, while speaking on this controversy, said in a show, “If Virat Kohli had been there instead of Babar Azam today, Smith’s father would have also taken a single.” He further said that Babar Azam is not spoiling the name of Pakistan with his game but his value is decreasing. He said that Pakistan Cricket Board did not send him there, Sydney Sixers have called him.

“Wasn’t happy, Babar.”

Drama in the middle of the SCG after Steve Smith knocked back a run from Babar Azam, so he could take strike during the Power Surge. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/rTh0RXE0A5

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 16, 2026

Why did Smith refuse to take a single?

Babar Azam played some dot balls in the 11th over and tried to score a run on the last ball by playing a shot towards long-on. Smith flatly refused and did not run. After this, when Babar asked him in a surprised manner, Smith said something. Even then Babar looked angry and turned his face away from Smith.

Steve Smith kept the strike in the next over and hit 4 consecutive sixes in 4 balls and also a four in the over. A total of 32 runs were scored in this over, which is a record. Thanks to this fast-paced innings, Sydney Sixers achieved the target of 190 runs against Sydney Thunder with 16 balls remaining.

What is Babar Azam’s salary in BBL 2026?

Sydney Sixers included Babar Azam in Big Bash League 2026 for 420,000 Australian dollars. If seen in Pakistan Rupees it is around 8 crores.

Babar Azam is not an ideal batsman in T20 format, people often make such claims on social media. It depends on Babar to what extent he is able to prove these claims wrong. But Babar’s figures somehow show that he is not made for T20 cricket. Poor strike rate was one of the reasons due to which he had to be dropped from Pakistan’s T20 team.

Now his strike rate in the Big Bash League going on in Australia is 104. Nowadays, batsmen have started playing with a higher strike rate in ODI matches, but Babar seems to be stuck in the era of Test cricket.

Bad situation in BBL also

Babar Azam recently made his BBL debut playing for Sydney Sixers. It has been more than a year since Babar Azam played an innings with a strike rate of more than 150 in an international T20 match.

Talking about BBL 2025-26, Babar has been one of the worst batsmen of the season so far. In the 8 innings played so far, he has faced 148 balls, in which he has been able to score only 154 runs at a slow strike rate of 104.05. If there is a stormy batsman like Abhishek Sharma or Andre Russell, he believes in scoring more than 300 runs in 148 balls.

A lot of money is being made in BBL

When Babar Azam was signed by Sydney Sixers, he became one of the most expensive players of BBL. Sydney Sixers included him in their squad by paying an amount of 4,20,000 Australian dollars. This is equivalent to approximately Rs 2.5 crore in Indian currency. But his performance has been just the opposite.

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Babar azam bbl salary: Babar Azam is going to make his BBL debut in the Big Bash League (BBL 2025-26) season. Former Pakistan team captain Babur, this time will be seen playing for Sydney Sixers. Actually, before the start of the season, there is a ‘pre-draft sign’ process, in which the teams have a chance to sign a foreign player. Under this process, Sydney Sixers have included Babar Azam in his squad. Here you will be able to know how much money Babar Azam will take to play in BBL?

How much salary was given to Babar Azam?

The Sydney Sixers Franchise also follows the salary system in the Big Bash League. The maximum amount of 4 lakh 20 thousand Australian dollars received by a player in BBL is Australian dollars. This amount is equal to about 2.35 crores in Indian currency. Therefore, Babar Azam will get a maximum salary of Rs 2.35 crore to play in BBL.

Let us know that the salary cap of a team in the Big Bash League is about Rs 16.77 crore. The team has to divide the tank of roster of 18 players out of this. Babar Azam has scored 11,330 runs in his 320 -match T20 career, but his strike rate is not 130. Today, Babur plays only at a strike rate of 129 in batting at a stormy rate of 180-190. Therefore, it is possible that Sydney Sixers will not loot Rs 2.35 crore on them.

How many salary do Babar Azam take in PSL

Babar Azam plays for Peshawar Jalmi in Pakistan’s largest T20 franchise league, PSL. He gets a salary of about Rs 1.88 crore (in Indian currency) to play in Pakistan Super League. However, he is definitely the most salary of Pakistani players in PSL. Let us know that the maximum salary received by an unaccounted player in IPL 205 will also be more than Babar Azam’s BBL salary.

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