Babar Azam leads Zalmi to second PSL title in 2026 comeback

Babar Azam captained Peshawar Zalmi to their second PSL title in 2026 after a dramatic season turnaround.

Zalmi’s rollercoaster season ends in triumph Peshawar Zalmi completed an extraordinary season revival under Babar Azam’s leadership, winning their second Pakistan Super League title in 2026. The campaign marked a stark contrast to 2025, when Zalmi missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Babar, who had captained Zalmi since 2022 without a trophy, finally lifted the PSL trophy after leading his side to the final in his first final as captain. The victory capped a personal journey from leadership struggles to redemption. ## Babar’s belief in destiny after years of waiting Babar Azam expressed unwavering faith in destiny following Zalmi’s PSL triumph, speaking beside the league’s ‘infinity’ trophy. 'I have a firm belief that you get what is destined for you,' he said. 'It can take some time or come to you quickly, but one should remain grateful to the almighty.' His comments reflected a season where persistence and timing aligned. The triumph came after years of captaincy without silverware in the PSL and international tournaments. ## From slump to record-breaking PSL resurgence Babar’s form had plummeted before the 2026 PSL, raising doubts over his future in the format. In 2025, he scored just 288 runs in ten matches—the fewest in any edition since 2016, when he played only two games. The skepticism deepened after he managed only 91 runs in six innings at the recent T20 World Cup. Yet the 2026 PSL became a statement of reinvention, as Babar smashed records. He equaled the single-season run tally with 588 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 145.90, matching Fakhar Zaman’s 2022 record. Babar struck two centuries, including a 52-ball effort against Quetta Gladiators—the fastest of the tournament. He also matched Usman Khan’s records for most PSL centuries in a season and overall with four tons. ## Babar reflects on technical reset and support Babar admitted his struggles before the breakthrough, acknowledging he fell short of his own standards. 'I was not up to my own expectations, but it is normal for a batter to struggle with his execution,' he said. 'You have to take a few steps back and assess where you are going wrong and correct it.' He credited close family, friends, and trusted coaches for keeping him motivated during the tough phase. 'Life is like a rollercoaster, and things never stay the same,' Babar reflected. 'You learn from your good and bad experiences. That is how life goes.' ## Babar’s case for playing all three formats With his PSL dominance restored, Babar signaled his intent to remain a multi-format batter. When asked about his future in all three formats, he responded directly. 'I know what you are trying to ask,' he replied. 'My focus is on all three formats. I feel a batter should play all cricket and should not limit himself to white-ball cricket.' He emphasized the value of red-ball cricket in teaching patience and scoring big. 'Red-ball cricket teaches you the art of batting long and instils patience in you,' he said. 'The learnings from red-ball game help you in white-ball cricket.' ## Zalmi survive scare to edge Kingsmen in final The final against Karachi Kings started nervously for Zalmi, who were reduced to 40 for 4 while chasing 130. A critical partnership between Aaron Hardie and Abdul Samad turned the game, adding 115 runs and sealing victory inside 15.2 overs. Hardie’s all-round performance was pivotal to the win. Babar himself was dismissed for a golden duck in the first over, bowled by Mohammad Ali, who dismissed both openers. ## Babar credits calm heads and tournament belief Babar described the early wickets as a pressure moment, but praised Hardie and Samad for their sensible approach. 'The loss of four early wickets put pressure on the dugout,' he said. 'But Hardie and Samad played sensibly and their partnership was crucial for us.' He explained the team’s preparation before the final, saying everyone believed in their chances after a strong tournament phase. 'We all said that we could do it because we have had a great tournament,' he noted. 'But we knew we had to control our nerves. Sometimes, as a player, you try to overdo things on these occasions and end up making a mistake.' The presence of experienced foreign players helped reinforce the importance of staying composed and sticking to the plan.