A moment of rare on-field confusion involving two modern-day greats lit up social media during the Big Bash League clash between Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers, when Steve Smith’s bemused reaction went viral after Babar Azam failed to prevent a ball from reaching the boundary.
The incident occurred when Nic Maddinson played a powerful straight shot that flew past the bowler and ran towards long-on. Steve Smith, representing the Sydney Sixers, was stationed at long-range, while Pakistani star Babar Azam was stationed at long-range. Anticipating a routine stop, both defenders ran to cut off the shot.
However, despite getting close to the ball, Babar was unable to intercept it cleanly, allowing it to roll over and cross the boundary. The unexpected mistake prompted an immediate reaction from Smith, who turned around with a visibly perplexed expression and hands raised in disbelief, a moment quickly captured by broadcast cameras.
The clip spread quickly across social media platforms, with fans both amused by Smith’s animated response and shocked by Babar’s unusual lapse. Memes and reactions followed, adding to the entertainment of an already high-voltage Sydney derby.
While the moment had no lasting impact on the outcome of the match, it became one of the most talked-about moments of the game, underscoring how even the best players can have bad moments under pressure.
Fact Check: Did Babar Azam receive the WWE Championship belt from John Cena in the Big Bash League?
A viral image on X (formerly Twitter) claims that Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam received a WWE Championship belt from wrestling stars John Cena, The Big Show and Roman Reigns during the Big Bash League. The photo shows Azam holding the belt while standing next to the WWE legends, and the post has led many fans to believe that the unusual crossover actually took place.
However, the claim is false. There is no report from the Big Bash League, any participating franchise, WWE or credible sports media confirming such an event. Neither wrestler was present at a BBL match and there has never been an official collaboration involving the presentation of the WWE title to a cricketer. If such an event had occurred, it would have been widely covered in global sports news.
Fact-checkers who reviewed the photo discovered that it was generated by AI. The image shows typical AI artifacts, such as mismatched lighting, distorted edges, and unnatural blends where figures meet. Similar made-up celebrity mashups have gone viral before. Although Babar Azam plays in the Big Bash League, he did not receive any WWE belt and the viral post is misleading. The image circulating on the Internet shows an event that never happened.
