Babar Azam might have one more reason to dislike Steve Smith after it was disclosed the Aussie cricket great will receive double his pay cheque to play in the Pakistan Super League from next month. Smith, who cannot crack it for a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, has signed with the Tim Paine-coached Sialkot Stallionz franchise for a reported $713,000.
It not only makes the former Australian captain the most expensive player in PSL history, but his massive wage bill dwarves the reported $350,000 Azam will receive for his stint with Peshawar Zalmi. Azam and Smith famously clashed during the Pakistan star’s forgettable campaign with the Sixers in this year’s BBL, falling out after Smith rejected an easy single so he could take strike for the start of the power surge at a crucial stage of the Sydney Smash.
Steve Smith clashed with Babar Azam in the BBL and is now set to be paid more than double what his Sydney Sixers teammate is earning in the Pakistan Super League. Pic: Fox Cricket/Getty
Sixers skipper Moises Henriques put Azam’s angry reaction down to a “misunderstanding of culture” and insisted the pair had “kissed and made up”. But Azam only played two more games before abruptly returning home to reportedly prepare for Pakistan’s World Cup campaign, leaving many sceptical over the real reason behind his departure.
There will be no escaping Smith when the pair meet during the PSL, to be played from March 26-May 3. Benefitting from a new rule which allows franchises to sign one player outside of the February 11 draft, the newly formed Stallionz pounced on Smith.
“One of the all-time great players is a @PSLStallionz!!!” Paine wrote on X. “Huge for our franchise and @thePSLt20.”
Sydney Sixers teammates Babar Azam and Steve Smith will be on opposing sides in the upcoming Pakistan Super League. Pic: Getty
Steve Smith joins PSL after T20 World Cup snub by Australia
Smith will arrive in Pakistan just weeks after the World Cup concludes in India and Sri Lanka. By then we will know if the Australian selectors were right to leave him out of the squad or if it turned out to be one of the great blunders.
National selector Tony Dodemaide explained Smith’s omission was based on an unwillingness to toy with the existing top order. Henriques is firmly in the pro-Smith camp and believes the veteran’s inclusion would have strengthened – not diminished – the side’s start to an innings.
“If he’s (Smith) not the best T20 batter in Australia, I don’t know who is,” Henriques told Fox Cricket. “I’d actually go with Smithy at the top (opening) and go with Mitch (Marsh) at 3.
“Imagine Smithy 40 not out at the six over mark by the time the spinners comes on.” Australia’s campaign begins against Ireland in Colombo on Wednesday.