Sahibzada Farhan Takes Babar Azam's BBL Humiliation Revenge From Steve Smith

I have always believed that cricket has a long memory, and what we saw during the PSL 2026 clash between Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators on April 6, 2026, was a perfect example of poetic justice. As we know, the "King" of Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam, faced a rather awkward moment earlier this year in the Big Bash League (BBL) when his then-teammate Steve Smith denied him a single. Fast forward to today, and you can see Sahibzada Farhan—who is currently in the form of his life—delivering a subtle but sharp "payback" to the Australian legend while they were opening the batting together for Multan.

The Incident: A Denied Single and a Knowing Smile

The moment unfolded in the third over of the Multan Sultans chase. Steve Smith was absolutely flying, having raced to 35 off just 12 balls*. On the final delivery of the over from Tom Curran, Smith worked the ball away and looked for a quick single to retain the strike. However, I noticed that Sahibzada Farhan stood his ground and firmly sent the veteran back.

You can see why social media immediately went into a frenzy. For many Pakistani fans, this was the ultimate "revenge" for the incident on January 16, 2026, at the SCG. Back then, Steve Smith had famously denied Babar Azam a single to keep the strike for himself during the Power Surge. I believe this tactical "eye for an eye" from Farhan was more than just a routine refusal; it was a statement of the rising confidence in Pakistan’s domestic talent.

Sahibzada Farhan: The New Century-Maker on the Block

While the "revenge" narrative is entertaining, we cannot ignore the sheer brilliance Sahibzada Farhan is bringing to PSL 2026. I think his recent performances have placed him in an elite bracket of T20 openers. Just five days ago, on April 1, he smashed a breathtaking unbeaten 106 against Hyderabad Kingsmen, proving that he isn't just a placeholder but a primary match-winner.

 * Closing the Gap: With his ninth T20 century, Farhan has now closed the gap on Babar Azam for the most hundreds by a Pakistani in the shortest format.

 * Aggressive Synergy: Despite the mid-pitch misunderstanding, his partnership with Steve Smith was lethal. The duo put on 71 runs in just five overs, effectively killing the chase before it even began.

 * Tactical Significance: By taking the lead in the partnership, Farhan allowed Shan Masood to anchor the latter half of the innings, leading Multan Sultans to a comfortable win with 2.3 overs to spare.

Analyzing the Babar-Smith-Farhan Dynamic

I feel that this incident highlights a significant shift in team dynamics within the Multan Sultans camp. As we know, Steve Smith is a serial winner who often prioritizes his own strike rotation to maximize damage—a trait that led to the "humiliation" of Babar Azam in the BBL. However, in the PSL, you can see that the local stars like Farhan are no longer willing to play second fiddle.

From a professional analysis standpoint, Sahibzada Farhan is playing with the freedom of a man who knows he belongs at the top level. His strike rate, which hovered near 186 during his recent century, shows a player who has mastered the art of the modern T20 powerplay. I noticed that even Steve Smith had to applaud some of the boundaries Farhan struck against the Gladiators' pace attack.

Final Verdict: Payback or Professionalism?

Was it a pre-planned revenge or just a split-second cricketing decision? I suspect it was a bit of both. You can see the camaraderie between Farhan and Babar Azam in the national setup, and players definitely talk about these viral moments. Whether intentional or not, the image of Farhan denying Smith the strike on April 6 will be etched in PSL folklore.

As we move forward in the tournament, Multan Sultans look like the team to beat. With Sahibzada Farhan consistently out-scoring his legendary partners, the focus is shifting away from the "King" and the "Australian Icon" toward the new era of Pakistani batting. I believe we are witnessing a career-defining season for Farhan, and if he keeps this up, more than just singles will be denied to his opponents.