Steve Smith has addressed the controversy surrounding his on-field disagreement with teammate Babar Azam during a Big Bash League (BBL) match.
Commentator Isha Guha asked Smith about the incident on Sunday during a pre-match discussion before Sydney Sixers’ latest game. “Have things been sorted out between you and Babar Azam?” she questioned.
Smith responded with a laugh, saying, “We’ve spoken to each other. Babar batted well that night. We talked about golf, as you would have seen on screen.” He then shifted focus to the upcoming match, adding, “The pitch looks good, hoping to do well in this match too.”
“Have you and Babar made up?”
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 18, 2026
Steve Smith’s response ⛳ #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/I4Gb8Y8ISM
The controversy erupted during the match against Sydney Thunder on the previous Friday, when Smith refused a single to Babar Azam as the two opened for Sydney Sixers.
Babar failed to score on three consecutive balls in the 11th over, before driving to long-on off the last ball of the over. Smith then smashed the Sydney Thunder bowler for four consecutive sixes in the next over, while Babar got bowled out on the first ball after returning to strike.
When Babar got out, he hit the boundary rope with his bat in frustration.
According to reports, Smith told Babar in the 10th over that he would face the first ball of the power surge over. Smith went on to score 32 runs in that over, but Babar reportedly showed no signs of celebration.
Australian media reports claim Babar felt disrespected by Smith’s behavior during the match and grew visibly angry. After the game ended, the Pakistani star stayed in the Sydney Sixers changing room and refused to meet anyone.
Babar joined the Sydney Sixers for the ongoing season. The former Pakistani captain has accumulated 202 runs in 10 matches with two fifties, maintaining a strike rate of 104.12 and an average of 25.25.