Fakhar Zaman's century powers Qalandars past Gladiators in 2026 PSL thriller

Fakhar Zaman scored his third PSL century to lead Qalandars to a nine-run win over Quetta Gladiators, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Inconsistent form continues Even with a roster of capable performers, Qalandars have struggled to maintain steady form, suffering three consecutive losses before securing back-to-back victories this season. Their inconsistency was glaring during a narrow nine-run triumph over Quetta Gladiators on Tuesday, where the disparity between Fakhar’s brilliance and the rest of the batting order was impossible to ignore. While the pitch offered scoring opportunities, with a total of 200 seeming within reach, the team left too many runs unclaimed. Had it not been for sharp death bowling, Fakhar’s century might have been overshadowed by a defeat. ## Fakhar’s century proves decisive Fakhar Zaman’s unbeaten 103 off 50 deliveries marked his third PSL century, reinforcing his reputation as the team’s cornerstone. When Fakhar delivers at this level, Qalandars appear unstoppable; when he underperforms or misses matches—such as his two-game suspension for ball-tampering—the outfit collapses into disarray, frequently folding for totals below 140. His 282 runs in the tournament represent nearly 35% of the team’s entire run tally, underscoring his outsized influence on their fortunes. ## Opening partnership remains a weak point Qalandars’ inability to settle on a stable opening duo has forced Fakhar into dual roles, sometimes stabilizing the innings and other times accelerating the scoring. While teams like Peshawar Zalmi thrive with a dominant top-order pair in Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam, Qalandars have experimented with multiple combinations. Players such as Mohammad Farooq, Abdullah Shafique, and Mohammad Naeem have all opened with Fakhar, while Parvez Hossain Emon filled in capably before a shoulder injury sidelined him. During Tuesday’s match, the gap was stark: Farooq and Shafique managed just 18 runs from 20 balls, whereas Fakhar raced to 41 in the same span. ## Plan A hinges on Fakhar’s dominance For Qalandars, their best pathway to success this season may lie in fully embracing Fakhar-centric cricket, replicating his performances from Tuesday and Saturday’s win over Rawalpindiz. Yet this strategy demands clarity, particularly in the opening order. Frequent changes have left Fakhar without a reliable partner, disrupting his rhythm and forcing him to adapt on the fly. The coaching staff must choose a lineup and commit to it, as further experimentation risks diluting the one weapon that consistently delivers. ## Middle order collapses without Fakhar The statistical decline behind Fakhar is alarming. Despite featuring Charith Asalanka and Sikandar Raza in the middle order, the team has lacked cohesion when Fakhar departs early. In matches where he scores fewer than 30 runs, Qalandars’ middle order averages a meager 16.4 runs, often failing to complete their full 20 overs. Raza, typically a reliable anchor, has struggled for rhythm this season, averaging just 14.2 with a strike rate below 120 in three of his last five innings. Asalanka has provided starts—such as his 31 off 24 on Tuesday—but remains without a half-century, raising doubts about his big-game temperament. ## Unfulfilled potential across the lineup Haseebullah, who flashed high-impact potential with a 40 not out off 28 earlier in the tournament, was surprisingly omitted for the Gladiators clash despite striking at over 140 in death overs. Abdullah Shafique, once a dependable top-order asset, has plummeted into deep form, managing only 68 runs across his last four innings at a sluggish strike rate of 104. These shortcomings highlight a squad brimming with talent but currently reliant on a single pillar: Fakhar Zaman.