Peshawar Zalmi Reach 5th PSL Final with Win Over United

Whenever the Pakistan Super League (PSL) gets underway, fans' eyes are always on the "Yellow Storm," Peshawar Zalmi. But PSL 11 (2026) is proving to be something special. Peshawar Zalmi defeated Islamabad United in a sensational Qualifier match to qualify for the PSL final for the fifth time. This is not only a matter of joy for Zalmi fans, but also a new record in PSL history: a team reaching the final five times. In this blog, we'll discuss in detail how Peshawar Zalmi performed this season, who their top performers were, and how their journey to the last four finals has been. If you're a die-hard Zalmi fan, this article will be a real gift for you.

Peshawar Zalmi Playing 11 ( Qualifier match)

Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Haris(w-k), Kusal Mendis, Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Basit

The PSL 11 Qualifier match was no less than a thriller movie. Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi, both teams, were in poor form, but Zalmi looked dominant from the start.

The match began when Islamabad United won the toss. Given the circumstances, they decided to bowl first to restrict Zalmi to a low score. But Babar Azam and his team had other plans. Peshawar Zalmi, batting first, set a formidable total of 221 runs on the board, which put pressure on United's batsmen. Chasing Peshawar Zalmi's total of 222 runs, Islamabad United's entire team was all out for 151 runs in 18.4 overs, and hence Peshawar Zalmi won the match by 70 runs and qualified for the final.

The real hero of this match was Babar Azam. Leading from the front, he played a brilliant innings in which he targeted every bowler of United. Kusal Mendis and Mohammad Haris supported him in full form. On the bowling side, Sufiyan Muqeem and Aaron Hardie took wickets and destroyed the batting line-up of United. Babar Azam was awarded the Man of the Match award for his excellent batting and leadership.

In this match, Babar Azam played an inning of 103 runs in 59 balls, while Muhammad Haris played a brilliant knock of 35 runs in 16 balls in the power play, and Kusal Mendis scored 41 runs. If we talk about bowling, Aaron Hardie took 3 wickets while Muhammad Basit and Sufiyan Mukeem took 2 wickets each. Chasing Peshawar Zalmi's total of 222 runs, the entire team of Howie Islamabad United was all out for 151 runs in 18.4 overs, and hence Peshawar Zalmi won the match by 70 runs and qualified for the final.

PSL 11 Mein Zalmi ka Shandaar Safar

Peshawar Zalmi have played a total of 11 matches this season. Of these 11 matches, Zalmi have won a record 9, which demonstrates their dominance. Throughout the season, they have suffered defeat in just one match, at the hands of Lahore Qalandars, which ended in a no-result due to rain. With nine wins, Zalmi has qualified for the final.

Zalmi's success this year is attributed to a few key players who steadied the team through every difficult moment:

The updated stats of Peshawar Zalmi's top performers (PSL 11) are given below:

Peshawar Zalmi ki Finals ki Tareekh (2017 to 2021)

Zalmi's history is incomplete without finals. Let's take a look at their last four finals:

PSL 2017: Peshawar Zalmi (Winner) – Captain: Daren Sammy

The year 2017 proved to be the most memorable year for Peshawar Zalmi as they lifted the PSL crown for the first time under the dynamic leadership of Darren Sammy. In the final played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Zalmi defeated Quetta Gladiators after a close contest. In the entire season, Zalmi played 11 matches, winning 6 of them, and their winning percentage was 54.5%. Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz, and Hasan Ali were the main pillars of the team, while players like Mohammad Hafeez and Iftikhar Ahmed also played a big role in the victory in the playing 11.

PSL 2018: Peshawar Zalmi (Runner-up) – Captain: Daren Sammy

Defending its title, Zalmi once again reached the final in 2018, but this time luck was not on its side. Islamabad United defeated Zalmi in the final played at the National Stadium in Karachi and lifted the trophy. This season, Zalmi played 13 matches and won 7, giving them a winning percentage of 53.8%. Kamran Akmal once again performed brilliantly with the bat and Wahab Riaz with the ball, while Liam Dawson also supported the team in the middle order, but they could not cross the hurdle of reaching the final.

PSL 2019: Peshawar Zalmi (Runner-up) – Captain: Daren Sammy

Zalmi maintained its streak of reaching the finals and qualified for the final for the third consecutive time in 2019. The team looked very strong this season and won 8 out of 13 matches to achieve an excellent winning percentage of 61.5%. They once again faced Quetta Gladiators in the final, but this time Quetta avenged their 2017 defeat by defeating Zalmi. Hasan Ali (25 wickets) and Kieron Pollard played enthusiastic cricket this season, but the trophy slipped out of their hands.

PSL 2021: Peshawar Zalmi (Runner-up) – Captain: Wahab Riaz

In this season, which was affected due to COVID-19, Peshawar Zalmi took the field with new leadership. Wahab Riaz took charge of the team and, with his excellent execution, took the team to the final for the fourth time. In the final played in Abu Dhabi, they faced Multan Sultans, where Multan won the title for the first time, and Zalmi had to remain runner-up. With 7 wins in 13 matches, Zalmi's winning percentage was 53.8%. Shoaib Malik's experience and Sherfane Rutherford's power-hitting were definitely plus points for Zalmi this year.

PSL 2026 (PSL 11) – Will Babar make history this time?

It's 2026, and the captain has changed. Under Babar Azam's leadership, Zalmi's team looks more confident than ever.

• Captain: Babar Azam
• Stats: 11 matches, 9 wins (Winning Percentage: 81.8%).

This season's win percentage is the highest ever, proving that Zalmi is in peak form.

Many people used to say that Babar Azam cannot captain well in T20, but he has silenced his critics in PSL 11. He not only scored runs himself but also gave confidence to young players like Sufian Muqeem and Ali Raza. His fielding and bowling changes have been quite good this year.

Peshawar Zalmi's biggest strength is its fans. Whether the match is in Karachi, Lahore or Rawalpindi, the chants of "Zalmi-Zalmi" are heard everywhere. Under the leadership of Javed Afridi, the team has always provided fans with cricket as well as entertainment.

Peshawar Zalmi is playing in the final for the fifth time, which is something to be proud of. However, their track record in finals has been a bit weak (only one win in four finals). This time, Babar Azam has a golden opportunity to make Peshawar the PSL champion for the first time since 2017.

Zalmi's team is balanced, the openers are in form, the middle order is stable, and the bowlers are taking wickets. If they maintain this momentum in the final, the trophy will surely be celebrated in the streets of Peshawar this year.

What do you think? Can Babar Azam win the final and lift the PSL trophy this time? Or will Zalmi be forced to finish runner-up once again? Share your thoughts in the comments below!