Pakistan batting star Babar Azam struck his second Pakistan Super League hundred of the season as Peshawar Zalmi booked a place in the 2026 PSL final with a convincing Qualifier victory over Islamabad United in Karachi this week.
Babar’s century steers Zalmi to a final
Babar made 103 off 59 balls, driving Peshawar to a commanding 221/7 on a surface that offered plenty of challenge. Islamabad United were then restricted to 151, with Zalmi bowling them out to seal a comprehensive win and advance to the title match.
- Babar’s knock: 103 (59 balls)
- Zalmi total: 221/7
- Islamabad’s score: 151 all out
- Dismissal result: Zalmi won the Qualifier to qualify for the final
How the innings was built
Babar’s innings featured 12 fours and four sixes. Just as important, his timing and shot selection anchored the chase of runs while other batters added momentum at the other end. Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis and Aaron Hardie played key roles as the batting unit pushed the scoring rate well beyond the average.
Milestones and season dominance
This was Babar’s fourth PSL century, taking him level with Usman Khan for the most hundreds in tournament history. His current PSL haul now stands at 588 runs, the highest ever recorded in a single PSL season, which also places him alongside Fakhar Zaman’s PSL 2022 mark.
Beyond the runs, Babar also carved out a unique T20 record across global cricket: centuries scored by a batter while serving as captain. With this hundred, it became his ninth such century in his career, breaking a tie he previously shared with Faf du Plessis.
- PSL centuries this season: second of the campaign
- Total PSL centuries: fourth overall
- PSL career centuries (history): level with Usman Khan for most in tournament history
- Season runs: 588 (highest in a single PSL edition)
- Captains’ centuries in T20s: ninth for Babar, breaking the previous deadlock
Most T20 centuries as captain
- Babar Azam* — 9
- Faf du Plessis — 8
- Michael Klinger — 7
- Virat Kohli — 5
- James Vince — 5
Babar matches Kohli’s marker in another category
Along with eclipsing du Plessis, Babar also drew level with Virat Kohli and Abhishek Sharma for another milestone: the most T20 centuries in a single country. Abhishek and Kohli each have eight T20 tons in India, while Babar now stands at eight T20 centuries on Pakistan soil.
What Babar said and what it means for Zalmi
After the match, Babar said he’s beginning to feel like he’s returning to his best, insisting he’s keeping his approach simple and executing his game plan based on the situation. He pointed to reading what the pitch demands, adapting to different bowlers, and choosing when to attack, adding that the work he put in ahead of the PSL has been paying off.
Babar’s form has underpinned a season where Peshawar finished top of the league standings with eight wins and only one defeat—coming in their final league match, a dead rubber. In the Qualifier, Peshawar continued that dominance by overpowering a strong Islamabad side, ensuring they march into the final as they chase a second PSL title. The franchise has previously ended as losing finalists on three other occasions.
