New Delhi, Jan 23 (NationPress) Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria responded to Babar Azam's abrupt departure from the Big Bash League and an incident with Steve Smith, where the prior Pakistan captain was not allowed to face a delivery. He emphasized that when players focus on the team, they must sometimes accept that they have to “swallow bitter pills.”

Babar has been having a tough time in the current BBL season, managing only 202 runs across 11 matches. He departed the league early to rejoin the Pakistan national team for preparations ahead of significant international fixtures.

In response to reports indicating that Babar felt 'disrespected' during the encounter with the Sydney Sixers, Kaneria articulated that such occurrences are a normal aspect of professional cricket and should not be viewed through an emotional lens.

“Social media generates unnecessary turmoil. While Babar was denied a strike, Rizwan had faced similar situations. These incidents are commonplace in team sports and are never intentional. In the IPL, decisions are made when players are not performing, or when adjustments are necessary for team balance. This doesn’t imply any dramatic events have transpired. Even Tilak Varma was substituted in a match,” Kaneria shared with IANS.

“Cricket is inherently a team sport. It is not an individual pursuit like tennis or golf. The entire team shares accountability. If the captain believes runs are lacking or feels a player needs to be brought back in, that’s perfectly acceptable,” he stated.

Encouraging Babar to rise above the distractions, Kaneria concluded that professionalism is about embracing difficult decisions with grace. “Babar should not take offense. If the team requires him, he should return with dignity. When you prioritize the team, sometimes you must swallow bitter pills, and that’s perfectly fine. The team should always take precedence,” he remarked.