Peshawar Zalmi are the champions of PSL 11, ending a nine-year title drought with a composed five-wicket victory over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen in the grand final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. The win delivered Zalmi their second PSL title since former West Indies Captain Darren Sammy led them to glory in 2017, and handed Peshawar Zalmi Captain Babar Azam the first PSL trophy of his captaincy career — a moment that has been a long time coming since he first took on the role with Karachi Kings for PSL 7 in 2022.
Sammy, who remains closely connected to the franchise, marked the occasion on Instagram by resharing a championship graphic bearing the “CHAMPIONS OF PSL 11” banner and tagging the official Zalmi account. He also reshared a Zalmi post featuring himself alongside Babar, with both men pictured holding trophies from the franchise’s two title-winning campaigns — a image that bridges the 2017 and 2026 chapters of Zalmi’s story.
Hardie delivers when it mattered most
Opting to field first, Babar’s decision set the tone immediately. Hyderabad Kingsmen, led by Marnus Labuschagne, were bowled out for 129 in 18 overs despite a gutsy effort from Saim Ayub, who top-scored with 54 off 50 balls, including five fours and two sixes. The rest of the Kingsmen batting order offered little resistance as Zalmi’s bowlers applied consistent pressure throughout.
Aaron Hardie was at the centre of it all. The Australian took 4/27 to dismantle the Kingsmen innings before walking out to bat with Zalmi in serious trouble at 40/4 in the chase. What followed was a match-defining 85-run fifth-wicket partnership with Abdul Samad, who contributed a brisk 48 off 34 deliveries before falling. Hardie finished unbeaten on 56 off 39 balls, striking nine boundaries, as Zalmi sealed the target with 28 balls to spare.
Babar himself was dismissed for a golden duck in the final, but his contribution across the tournament told a different story entirely. He finished as the leading run-scorer of PSL 11 with 588 runs in 11 matches at an average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 145.91, including two centuries and three fifties.
A captain’s moment — and a milestone recognised across cricket
The cricket fraternity was quick to respond. Former Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad took to X to write, “Peshawar Zalmi are the champions of PSL 11! What an incredible journey and a truly dominant performance. From start to finish, they showed class, passion, and determination.” He added, “Congratulations to Babar Azam on winning his first trophy,” before concluding, “Kudos to the team and their fans, this victory belongs to you.”
Peshawar Zalmi are the champions of PSL 11! 🏆 What an incredible journey and a truly dominant performance. From start to finish, they showed class, passion, and determination.
Congratulations to Babar Azam on winning his first trophy.💛
Kudos to the team and their fans, this…
— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) May 3, 2026
Former Pakistan Captain Younis Khan, who led the national side to ICC Men’s T20 World Cup glory in 2009, also weighed in on X. “Congratulations to Peshawar Zalmi on winning PSL for the 2nd time. Incredible journey throughout the tournament and certainly the best team throughout, captained well by Babar Azam,” Younis wrote.
Congratulations to @PeshawarZalmi on winning @thePSLt20 for the 2nd time. Incredible journey throughout the tournament and certainly the best team throughout, captained well by @babarazam258 🥇🏆 pic.twitter.com/BEZFolvZiD
— Younus Khan (@YounisK75) May 3, 2026
Former Pakistan Team Director and former Pakistan Captain Mohammad Hafeez paid tribute to the full leadership structure behind Zalmi’s triumph, writing on X, “Congratulations Peshawar Zalmi winning PSL 11. Javed Afridi, Babar Azam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Azhar Mahmood, Ottis Gibson & Muhammad Akram. Job well done.”
Congratulations @PeshawarZalmi winning #PSL11 🏆 . @JAfridi10 @babarazam258 @captainmisbahpk @AzharAli_ @AzharMahmood11 Ottis Gibson & Muhammad Akram. Job well done 👍🏼👏🏼
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) May 3, 2026
Former Pakistan Captain and newly appointed red-ball Head Coach Sarfaraz Ahmed used the occasion to recognise both the franchise and the tournament’s organisers. He wrote on X, “Congratulations to the Pakistan Cricket Board and PSL Management on the successful and outstanding season of PSL 11,” adding, “Delivering such a fantastic tournament under challenging circumstances is truly a great achievement. Special appreciation to Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi Sahab.” He continued, “A tournament full of passion energy and quality cricket well done to everyone involved Great Jon done by Salman Naseer and his entire team for their hard work, commitment and professional execution.”
Congratulations to the Pakistan Cricket Board and PSL Management on the successful and outstanding season of PSL 11.
Delivering such a fantastic tournament under challenging circumstances is truly a great achievement. Special appreciation to Chairman Pakistan circket Board…
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) May 3, 2026
In a separate post, Sarfaraz added, “Congratulations to Peshawar Zalmi on winning PSL 11! A great season for the entire management, coaching staff and players. Special mention to @babarazam258 led from the front with his class and leadership. The team showed excellent unity fighting spirit and character throughout the tournament. Well deserved!”
Congratulations to Peshawar Zalmi on winning PSL 11! 🏆
A great season for the entire management, coaching staff and players. Special mention to @babarazam258 led from the front with his class and leadership. The team showed excellent unity fighting spirit and character…
— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) May 3, 2026
Babar shuts down format debate
At the post-match press conference, Babar was asked about his future across formats — and cut the question short before it was finished. “Teenon me khelunga, befikre rahiye. Teenon ki taraf hai, aap tension na le..jo aap puchna chah rahe hai [I’ll play all three formats, don’t worry. I’m available for all of them, so you don’t need to stress about it… I know what you’re trying to ask],” Babar said in post-match press conference, a smirk accompanying the response.
He then elaborated on why he believes multi-format cricket is non-negotiable for any serious player. “Dekhiye yeh player ne nahi decide karna..player ka kaam he khelna. Mere khyaal se har player ko, har cricket khelne chahiye. Yeh nahi ki sirf white ball par ya T20 par focus karna chahiye. Red ball se aapko bahut experience milta hai..aapme patienece aata hai..aapko lambe pariya khelne ka experience aata hai jab aap four-day khelte hai ya domestic cricket khelte hai. Isliye aapko teenon format khelna chahiye, aur who aapko har format me help karta hai [Look, it’s not really for the player to decide — a player’s job is to play. In my opinion, every cricketer should play all formats. It shouldn’t be about focusing only on white-ball or just T20 cricket. Red-ball cricket gives you a lot of experience… it builds patience… it teaches you how to play long innings, especially when you play four-day or domestic cricket. That’s why you should play all three formats — it helps you in every format],” he added.
From World Cup low to PSL high
Babar was candid about the difficult period that preceded this triumph. He reflected on returning from a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign with little time to reset. “Look, when we came back from the World Cup, I hadn’t performed according to expectations. As a player, you feel a bit down. But again, there was very little time. I only had about ten days. During that time, I sat down and looked at my mistakes and where my game plan seemed to be shifting. I worked on my technique and my mindset,” Babar said in post-match press conference.
That period of reflection shaped his entire approach to PSL 11. “For this PSL (Pakistan Super League), my goal was simply this: I will play my natural game and stick to my cricketing shots. I decided to execute whatever the pitch conditions, the match situation, and the team demanded of me,” he added.
On his batting form across the tournament, Babar was honest about the gap between output and expectation. “As far as batting is concerned, I definitely couldn’t deliver according to the expectations I had for myself. But these things happen. Sometimes, once you’re out there, you aren’t able to execute your plans exactly how you wanted. You try everything, but things just don’t go in your favour,” he said. He then described the process of pulling himself through. “In those moments, what you do is take two steps back and look at yourself. You analyse your mistakes and try to rectify them. That’s what I did. During that phase, the people closest to me provided immense support. You really need that support during such times. My family and close friends motivated me and kept reminding me about my ‘best abilities.’ I also tried to repeat the things I do best. I spoke with my coaches, had discussions, and worked on my game. Look, things move like a rollercoaster; life is never a stable, flat line. You learn, you do well, and you do poorly. That’s just part of life.”
On lifting the trophy as Captain for the first time, Babar kept it simple. “Better late than never — sometimes things come to you late, and sometimes they happen quickly,” he said, before reflecting on what the win meant beyond personal milestones. “It’s a very big achievement for me, for Peshawar Zalmi and all the fans,” Babar added. “Throughout the tournament we’ve performed really well as a team… every player executed the plans they were given.”
The victory at Gaddafi Stadium closes a nine-year chapter for a franchise that has rebuilt patiently and purposefully. For Babar, it marks not just a first PSL title as Captain but a statement of intent — on the field, in the dressing room, and at the press conference podium.
