- Babar equals record for most runs in a single HBL PSL season with 588; becomes first batter to amass 500-plus runs in an HBL PSL edition on four occasions
- Sufyan Moqim moves to 21 wickets, retains the Fazal Mahmood Cap
- The official nomenclature of the league is HBL PSL; Media houses are advised to use the correct nomenclature in all texts, headlines and bulletins
Karachi, 28 April 2026: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam smashed his fourth HBL PSL century to power his side to a 70-run victory over Islamabad United in the HBL PSL 11 Qualifier at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday night, as a packed crowd welcomed the return of fans in emphatic fashion.
Zalmi’s comprehensive triumph lands them in an HBL PSL final for the first time in five seasons while Islamabad will have another crack at a final berth in Eliminator 2 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 1 May.
Babar’s stunning ton, his second of the season and the 12th of his T20 career, was laced with 12 fours and four sixes. The star batter’s monumental 59-ball 103, which levelled him with Usman Khan for most HBL PSL centuries, set the tone for Zalmi’s batting dominance as they posted 221 for seven.
Babar was ably supported by fellow opener Mohammad Haris in a breezy 72-run stand off 38 deliveries. Haris fell for a 16-ball 35 featuring five fours and two sixes off Shadab Khan after plundering 68 runs in the Powerplay, most any side has registered against Islamabad United in HBL PSL 11 so far.
The in-form Kusal Mendis then put on 84 runs for the second with Babar, never letting the United bowlers get the upper hand. The Zalmi skipper completed his half-century in 38 balls in the 12th over, before smoking Shadab for two sixes in a 19-run 14th over.
Mendis, however, was caught at midwicket by Sameer Minhas off Faheem Ashraf for a 26-ball 41 aided by five fours and a solitary six as the scoreboard read 156 for two in the 15th over.
Shadab dismissed Michael Bracewell (2) and Abdul Samad off successive deliveries in the next over but Babar wrested back the momentum with a flurry of boundaries.
The 31-year-old got to three-figure mark with a six off Richard Gleeson in the 18th over amid thunderous applause. Babar’s dismissal in the 18th over did little to hamper Zalmi’s progress as Aaron Hardie’s 10-ball 20 featuring two fours and one six carried them past 220.
Shadab finished with three for 42 from his four overs whereas Gleeson took two for 45.
Islamabad United began the pursuit of 222 with intent. Opening batters Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas added 58 in five overs, with the 50-partnership coming up in 23 balls. Conway (20, 14b, 1×4, 2x6s) was caught off Michael Bracewell, but Sameer kept attacking.
The young United batter was caught off Hardie for a 23-ball 44 studded with seven fours and one six with the score reading 81-2 in the ninth over. A procession of wickets ensued with Islamabad crashing to 114-7 by the end of the 14th over.
Sufyan Moqim, along with Hardie, were the chief wreckers during this period, drawing the life out of United’s chase.
Imad Wasim, batting at No. 9, hit four boundaries in his 15-ball 22 before being caught and bowled by Mohammad Basit. Salman followed two balls later as Islamabad were bundled out for 151 in 18.4 overs.
Hardie registered three for 24 in his four overs. Sufyan’s two for 25 took his tournament tally to 21 wickets in 10 matches, retaining the Fazal Mahmood Cap, with Shadab trailing him on second spot with 17 wickets in nine games. Basit claimed two for 19 from his 3.4 overs.
Babar’s century lifted him past teammate Mendis to the top of the HBL PSL 11 run-scoring charts, taking over the Hanif Mohammad Cap. He now has 588 runs in 10 matches at an average of 84, including two hundreds and three half-centuries, with 60 fours and 15 sixes.
He equals Fakhar Zaman’s record of 588 runs for the most in a single HBL PSL season, set for Lahore Qalandars in the 2022 edition across 13 matches at an average of 45.23.
Babar also became the first batter to amass 500-plus runs in a single HBL PSL edition on four occasions — 2021, 2023, 2024 and the current edition. His two centuries in HBL PSL 11 equalled Usman Khan feat of most centuries in a single edition, set for Multan Sultans in 2024.
The next playoff fixture, Eliminator 1, will be played between Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, 29 April. The winner will face Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 on Friday.
Scores in brief:
Qualifier – Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 70 runs at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Peshawar Zalmi 221-7, 20 overs (Babar Azam 103, Kusal Mendis 41, Mohammad Haris 35, Aaron Hardie 20; Shadab Khan 3-42, Richard Gleeson 2-45)
Islamabad United 151 all out, 18.4 overs (Sameer Minhas 44, Mohsin Riaz 25, Imad Wasim 22, Devon Conway 20; Aaron Hardie 3-24, Mohammad Basit 2-19, Sufyan Moqim 2-25)
Player of the Match: Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi)
Wednesday’s Eliminator 1: Multan Sultans vs Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 7pm PKT