Babar Azam produced a captain’s masterclass in Karachi, blasting a pressure-laden century to lift Peshawar Zalmi into the PSL final after a dominant Qualifier win over Islamabad United.
Key takeaways
- Azam struck 103 off 59 balls, his second century of the PSL season, to steer Peshawar Zalmi to a place in the final.
- Peshawar Zalmi posted 221/7 on a challenging surface, then restricted Islamabad United to 151 all out.
- Azam’s innings featured 12 fours and four sixes, setting the tone from the front.
- The knock was Azam’s fourth PSL century, tying him with Usman Khan for the most hundreds in the competition.
- His form has been highlighted by a PSL run tally of 588, equalling the record for most runs in a single PSL edition.
- With this latest milestone, Azam also set a new T20 mark for the most captain-led centuries, taking his total to nine.
Azam’s century sets up a commanding Qualifier
Peshawar Zalmi started the Qualifier with intent and Azam made sure the momentum stayed with them. He played a controlling, high-impact innings of 103 from 59 deliveries, striking 12 boundaries and clearing the ropes four times as his side built a substantial platform on what was widely viewed as a tricky pitch.
That total—221/7—proved decisive. Islamabad United, chasing a score of that magnitude, never fully got going and were eventually dismissed for 151, handing Zalmi a comprehensive victory and the right to play the final.
Support at the other end and key career milestones
While Azam was the driving force, the chase of runs at the other end was maintained by contributions from Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis, and Aaron Hardie. Their scoring helped keep the required rate under control, ensuring Zalmi’s innings didn’t lose momentum after the early overs.
Beyond the match result, the century carried major historical weight for Azam. It was his fourth hundred in PSL history, which brought him level with Usman Khan for the most centuries in the tournament. His season consistency has also been striking—he now has 588 runs, matching the record for the highest run total in a single PSL campaign, a mark previously set by Fakhar Zaman in 2022.
Azam’s landmark didn’t stop at the PSL either. On the wider T20 stage, he set a new benchmark for the most centuries scored by a captain in the format. This was his ninth T20 hundred as skipper, moving him beyond Faf du Plessis, the captain with whom he had previously shared the record.
Record list and Azam on his approach
Most T20 centuries as captain:
- Babar Azam – 9
- Faf du Plessis – 8
- Michael Klinger – 7
- Virat Kohli – 5
- James Vince – 5
Speaking about his current form, Azam attributed his return to rhythm to preparation and a clear game plan. “I’m starting to feel like I’m getting back to my best. I’m trying to keep things simple and trust my skills, and just execute my game according to the situation—what the pitch demands, how to handle different bowlers, and when to attack. The hard work I put in before the PSL is helping now,” he said.
There was yet another notable stat to celebrate: Azam has eight T20 centuries in Pakistan, matching the record for the most hundreds by a batter in a single country, a tally also shared with Virat Kohli and Abhishek Sharma in that category.
