Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria has ignited a fresh debate by staunchly defending Australian batting maestro Steve Smith’s controversial refusal to give Babar Azam a single in the Big Bash League. In an IANS interview on January 23 from New Delhi, Kaneria argued that the move was not just justified but essential for team success, urging the Pakistan Cricket Board and pundits to drop any fuss.
‘Match situations dictate decisions,’ Kaneria asserted. ‘Babar was struggling for runs then, so Smith said no to the single. Perfectly fine. It was for the team’s good, and Babar isn’t some untouchable Viv Richards who gets special treatment.’ The very next over, Smith exploded for 32 runs en route to a blistering 41-ball ton, clinching the game for his team.
The tournament wasn’t short on drama for Pakistanis. Rizwan’s retired out dismissal drew parallels to past IPL incidents involving Tilak Varma. ‘It’s standard practice,’ Kaneria shrugged. ‘No need for Pakistani analysts to create unnecessary drama.’
BBL 2025-26 saw a Pakistani contingent—Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen, Haris Rauf, and Shadab—fail to shine. Shaheen’s injury curtailed his campaign, Shadab prioritized international commitments, and the others flattered to deceive. Babar and Rizwan’s slow scoring drew sharp criticism, with Haris leaking runs.
Stats tell the tale: Babar’s 202 runs came at 22.44 average and 103.6 strike rate over 11 innings (two fifties). Rizwan’s 187 runs in 10 innings averaged 18.70 at 102.74 strike rate, no fifties. Babar skipped Sydney Sixers’ crucial Challenger game, heading home amid whispers of an impending axe from the playing XI.
Kaneria’s comments cut through the noise, reminding everyone that T20 cricket rewards ruthless tactics over sentiment. Smith’s masterclass post-denial proves that point, leaving Babar’s BBL campaign—and Pakistan’s T20 template—under intense scrutiny as they gear up for future battles.