Babar Azam finally got the captain’s breakthrough he had been waiting for, and the relief was clear on his face. Peshawar Zalmi ended a long wait for a title by defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the PSL 11 final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. Mohsin Naqvi handed over the trophy right after the winning finish.
The triumph also represented Zalmi’s second league championship, with their previous title coming back in 2017. While Babar had already experienced PSL success earlier in his career, this was his first piece of silverware as a leader, which made the moment even more significant. The final, though, swung on a standout all-round display from Aaron Hardie.
At a glance
- PSL 11 final: Peshawar Zalmi vs Hyderabad Kingsmen
- Result: Zalmi won by five wickets
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium
- Match day: Sunday
- Player of the Match: Aaron Hardie
- Player of the Tournament: Sufiyan Muqeem (22 wickets)
- Orange Cap (most runs): Babar Azam — 588
- Purple Cap (most wickets): Sufiyan Muqeem — 22
- Champions: Peshawar Zalmi; Runners-up: Hyderabad Kingsmen (debutant)
Hardie shaped the contest from both ends. With the ball, he struck early and broke Hyderabad’s rhythm, finishing with figures of 4 for 27. That spell helped keep the Kingsmen to 129 runs in their 18 overs, leaving them with a total that demanded a perfect chase.
Hyderabad’s resistance came mainly through Saim Ayub, who made a hard-fought 54. Beyond him, the innings faltered as regular wickets kept falling, narrowing the margin for error. Once the batting side lost momentum, the pressure shifted firmly onto Hyderabad’s ability to defend a modest score.
Zalmi’s pursuit, however, did not start smoothly. They slid to 40 for 4 in a hurry, and Babar Azam’s golden duck made the situation worse. Soon after, Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis, and Michael Bracewell were also dismissed cheaply, leaving the champions-elect staring at a difficult chase.
Hardie’s turnaround
Hardie returned to the crease at exactly the right time and delivered the key innings. He played with a controlled, attacking approach and ended up unbeaten on 56 off 39 balls, hitting boundaries at regular intervals. His calmness steadied the chase after the early collapse, giving Zalmi a platform to build again.
Just as importantly, Hardie forged an 85-run partnership with Abdul Samad, who contributed 48 runs. That stand changed the complexion of the match, swinging momentum toward Zalmi and bringing the target into reach. From there, the chase became a controlled march rather than a scramble.
Zalmi sealed the win in 15.2 overs, finishing the job with authority and matching their dominant campaign. Throughout the tournament they were the standout side, losing just once, and Babar also produced a special season with 588 runs to match Fakhar Zaman’s record for the most runs in a single PSL edition.
Individual honours added to the story of a season-long impact. The Player of the Tournament was Sufiyan Muqeem, who claimed 22 wickets. Babar Azam took the Orange Cap with 588 runs, while Muqeem also secured the Purple Cap by taking 22 wickets. In the final itself, Aaron Hardie was named Player of the Match.
Peshawar Zalmi were crowned champions, while Hyderabad Kingsmen finished as runners-up in their debut PSL final appearance.
