Sports
‘Took couple of days’: Sixers captain reveals how Babar-Smith saga was resolved
Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques has revealed it took team management a couple of days to resolve a “misunderstanding” between Babar Azam and Steve Smith following a denied single during their Big Bash League (BBL) game against Sydney Thunder last week.
The incident occurred on the final delivery of the 11th over when Smith declined a single offered by Babar to ensure he would be on strike for the Power Surge — a tactical phase where only two fielders are allowed outside the circle.
Henriques said that the incident was a result of the cultural difference between Australian and Pakistani players.
“It took a couple of days for that to settle down,” Henriques said during the Qualifier final against Perth Scorchers. “To be honest, think it’s just a bit of a misunderstanding of culture of each other.”
“It’s a pretty common thing in our culture, and maybe for him (Babar) he wasn’t used to it and didn’t quite understand. Once it was explained to him he was absolutely fine. They’ve kissed and made up and it’s two of the greats back friendly again.”
Smith had reportedly informed Babar an over earlier that he intended to take the first ball of the surge during the game. Babar, who was dismissed for 47 off 39 balls, appeared visibly unhappy with the decision.
Speaking during the post-match presentation, Smith said that the captain and coach had told him to take the Power Surge at the ten-over mark.
“I was like, ‘Nah, give it one over. I want to hit to the short boundary. I don’t want to screw up the first over. I’ll try to get 30 off that over’. [I] think we got 32, so it was a good result. Not sure Babar was too happy with me knocking back that single,” he added.
Meanwhile, Henriques said that head coach Greg Shipperd took the lead role in talking to Babar.
“[We are] always trying to understand…we could visibly see he was quite upset with what happened on the field, so we needed to try and understand why he felt that way. Once we got to the bottom of it, it was okay.”
It is pertinent to mention that Babar, who was roped in as a direct signing by the Sixers for the BBL 15, has been struggling in the ongoing tournament as he has thus far managed to accumulate 202 runs in 11 innings at a modest average of 22.44 and a dismal strike rate of 103.06.
In Bodø, Norway, about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the Northern Lights often flicker across the nighttime sky. But on Tuesday, the tiny town hosted an even more awe-inspiring sight: one of the biggest UEFA Champions League upsets in recent memory.
That’s where Bodø/Glimt sent shock waves through the soccer world by humiliating Premier League title contenders Manchester City 3-1. It was the team’s first-ever win in Europe’s most prestigious continental competition, and it could hardly have come in more impressive fashion.
A brace by Kasper Waarst Høgh set the Norwegian club on course for the upset, but Jens Petter Hauge‘s stunning goal was the pick of the bunch. After a driving run past 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who was later sent off for picking up two yellow cards in 53 seconds, Hauge curled the ball into the top corner past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Jens Petter Hauge’s GOLAZO puts Bodø/Glimt 3-0 up before Rayan Cherki pulls a goal back for Manchester City ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/LsjZQH5Trz
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 20, 2026
Bodø/Glimt’s victory was the first by any Norwegian club in the Champions League since 2007, and they might not be done just yet — as of Tuesday, they’re only two points out of the knockout-round places. With a win over Atletico Madrid in the final matchweek, they’ll be well placed to create even more moments of magic in the next round.
The younger brother of Fernando Mendoza was a backup in Bloomington and, while he didn’t play much, he was effective when he got on the field.
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Reigning NCAA men’s golf champion Michael La Sasso has joined LIV Golf, forgoing his senior season at Ole Miss and forfeiting his chance to play in this year’s Masters.
LIV Golf announced Tuesday that La Sasso signed with the Phil Mickelson-led HyFlyers GC, which referred to the former Ole Miss star as “one of golf’s promising young talents.”
“It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and I don’t take that lightly,” La Sasso said in a statement. “LIV Golf allows me to compete at the highest level on a global stage, and I thrive in a team environment, especially one with the camaraderie and support that defines HyFlyers GC.”
With the decision to turn pro, La Sasso forfeited his amateur status and his invite to the Masters, which he earned as an exemption as the NCAA individual champion.
La Sasso, who turns 22 in March, was a first-team All-American last season at Ole Miss and led the Rebels to the semifinals of the NCAA team championship event. He also competed for the United States in the 2025 Walker Cup.
“Michael is one of the most exciting young players in the game today, bringing a competitive fire that’s evident every time he tees it up,” Mickelson said in a statement. “He combines tremendous power and speed with an exceptional feel for the game. Beyond his talent, his personality, work ethic, and commitment to being a great teammate make him a terrific addition to HyFlyers GC.”
La Sasso played in six PGA Tour events last season and missed the cut in five of them, including the U.S. Open, where he shot a pair of 75s. He finished tied for 44th last July at the 3M Open, where he finished 11 under par.
La Sasso is the latest of LIV additions this year that include Thomas Detry, Victor Perez, Laurie Canter, Byeong Hun An and Elvis Smylie of Australia. The LIV season starts in two weeks in Saudi Arabia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Hauge helps Bodø/Glimt to Champions League upset of Man City
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