- By Himanshu Badola
- Sun, 18 Jan 2026 04:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, BBL 2025-26 Updates: Babar Azam had yet another disappointing outing with the bat in the ongoing Big Bash League as he managed to score just 1 run in 7 balls for the Sydney Sixers against the Brisbane Heat in match 40 of the tournament at the Gabba on Sunday.
Babar came out to open with Steve Smith again for the Sixers, making his first appearance after a controversy had taken place during their previous match against the Sydney Thunder. While Smith smashed three boundaries in the first over of the Sixers' run chase, Babar struggled to get going and looked for a release shot in the second over off Xavier Bartlett. On the last delivery, Babar attempted an attacking shot but ended up hitting it in the air.
Max Bryant took an easy catch as Babar headed back to the pavilion with his head directed towards the ground in disappointment. Pakistan's senior batter Babar has managed to score just 202 runs in this BBL season in 10 innings at an average of 25.25. While Babar departed cheaply, Smith looked in great touch again. Earlier in the match, Brisbane Heat posted a challenging total of 171/9 in their 20 overs after being put into bat first. Nathan McSweeney was the top run-getter for the hosts, having smashed 69 runs in 54 balls on the back of four boundaries.
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Michael Neser provided the finishing touch as he played a 35-run fiery cameo in just 14 balls, hitting five fours and a couple of sixes. For the Sixers, Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 35 runs in his four overs. In his maiden appearance in the ongoing BBL season, Starc registered his first four-fer in the tournament.
Ahead of the match, Smith was asked about the strike-rotation controversy with Babar in the previous game against the Thunder. During the 11th over, Smith declined a single offered by Babar Azam to keep strike for the Power Surge. Smith then made full use of the fielding restrictions and smashed 32 runs in the 12th over. He again looked to retain strike for the 13th, but Babar eventually faced and was dismissed on the first ball before walking off in ferocious anger.
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After the match, reports claimed that the right-handed Babar isolated himself in the dressing room and skipped the customary post-match handshakes following the Sixers’ five-wicket win. There was uncertainty about whether Babar would take the field against Heat, but all seems well between the two, for now.
"Nah, he’s good. We were just chatting before. I thought he batted really well the other night, and we had a good partnership. We were talking about our golf there. He’s looking forward to tonight, and it’s a nice wicket, so I hope we can get off to a good start again," Smith said on the match broadcast.