Cricket’s tactical chessboard came alive in the Big Bash League when Steve Smith denied Babar Azam a single, a call former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has hailed as spot-on. From New Delhi on January 23, in a candid IANS chat, Kaneria quashed backlash from Pakistan’s cricket fraternity, labeling it a selfless team decision.
‘Everything hinges on the game’s flow,’ Kaneria said. ‘Babar wasn’t firing, so no single. Simple as that—team first. And Babar Azam is no Viv Richards to warrant kid gloves.’ Smith’s response? 32 runs in the next over, capped by a heroic 41-ball hundred that sealed victory.
Echoing the sentiment, Kaneria downplayed Rizwan’s retired out episode. ‘Seen it in IPL with Tilak Varma. Teams adapt to situations; no room for overreactions from our experts.’
Pakistan’s BBL 2025-26 invasion fell flat. Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi (injury-hit), Haris Rauf (wayward), and Shadab (early departure) couldn’t dazzle. Slow batting from the openers invited scorn, contrasting their international pedigrees.
Babar’s ledger: 11 innings, 202 runs, 22.44 average, 103.6 strike rate, two fifties. Rizwan: 10 innings, 187 runs, 18.70 average, 102.74 strike rate, zero fifties. Babar preempted a potential drop by leaving Sydney Sixers before the Challenger clash.
As the dust settles, Kaneria’s endorsement of Smith’s gambit underscores T20’s evolution—prioritizing momentum over marquee names. With Pakistan’s players back home, questions loom over their white-ball approach, strike rates, and ability to thrive under pressure in global leagues.