Tag: Babar Azam

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam credited bowlers after his side thumped Quetta Gladiators in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Zalmi registered an eight-wicket win over Gladiators to extend their six-game unbeaten run in the tournament — six wins out of six games.

Sufiyan Muqeem delivered with the ball, scalping a three-wicket haul while Babar Azam made an unbeaten 71* from 51 balls with the aid of 10 fours.

Following this victory, Peshawar Zalmi have consolidated the top spot with 13 points and are on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Babar Azam discussed the conditions and praised the bowlers for delivering successfully throughout the fixtures.

“We assessed the conditions and our bowling attack has been delivering consistently and we were relying on it. It’s a team game, and combined effort is helping us win. We’re keeping the players sitting out ready and that’s why we see them performing well,” he remarked.

He also hailed emerging bowler Mohammad Basit Ali, who took a three-wicket haul.

“Take the example of Basit, who bowled fantastically,” said Babar.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The skipper also mentioned his own form, noting that he tries to take the game deep to ensure his team crosses the finishing line.

“On my personal form, yes I feel good, when you spend time out in the middle, it gives you confidence and I am trying to carry my confidence and play a winning role. Focus has been on building partnerships and to take the game deep,” he concluded.

Peshawar Zalmi’s next fixture will be against Quetta Gladiators on April 19 at the same venue.

READ: Babar, Muqeem star in dominant win for Peshawar Zalmi

KARACHI: Sufiyan Muqeem and Babar Azam propelled the dominant Peshawar Zalmi to a decisive eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.

Zalmi chased down a mere target of 154 in 18.3 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.

Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam made light work of the chase, adding 75 in 8.4 overs. The former played the core aggressor role while the latter played the second fiddle.

Haris departed after hitting five fours and a six in his 35 from 28 balls.

Following his departure, in-form Kusal Mendis paired up with Babar and stitched a 49-run partnership that threw the Gladiators out of the game. There wasn’t much to cheer for Quetta Gladiators bowlers as Zalmi batters kept them at bay with their stroke play.

Mendis was eventually caught after scoring 21 off 19 balls. Meanwhile, Babar continued to anchor the innings and finished with a boundary.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

He top-scored with 71* from 51 balls laced with 10 fours while Aaron Hardie struck one boundary in his unbeaten 18 from 14 balls.

For Quetta Gladiators, Alzarri Joseph and Saud Shakeel picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi’s spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and pacer Mohammad Basit’s three-wicket haul bundled out Quetta Gladiators for a modest total

Put in to bat first, Quetta Gladiators’ shambolic batting display saw their innings folded for 154 in 20 overs.

The Gladiators lost their promoted opener, Ahsan Ali, for four in the first over.  Following the early wicket, Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw added 35 for the second wicket partnership. The scorecard read 39 when skipper Saud was run out after making 16 from 13 balls.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Peshawar Zalmi continued to chip away with wickets at regular intervals. Rossouw (26 off 18 balls) was cleaned up by Sufiyan Muqeem, whereas Shamyl Hussain departed for 12.

Consequently, Gladiators were 86-4 in 11.4 overs. The only silver lining was Hassan Nawaz, who top-scored with 37 off 35, including four boundaries.  He was involved in a brief 26-run stand with Khawaja Nafay before getting caught behind.

Nafay could not get going as well and was lbw for 20.

Peshawar Zalmi bowlers squeezed the runs flow and eventually bowled the opposition out on the final ball of the innings.

For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit shared six wickets between them.

READ: Rilee Rossouw sets PSL record during Peshawar Zalmi clash

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam expressed confidence in maintaining the team’s winning momentum in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. 

Zalmi’s 24-run victory over Multan Sultans marked their fifth win in the tournament, strengthening their top position on the points table.

The stars of the match were Kusal Mendis and Sufiyan Muqeem, with the former top-scoring with 68 while the latter returned with a three-wicket haul.

Speaking to the media after the match, Babar praised the players for their impressive performances.

“I am thoroughly enjoying playing this season. Our players are working hard in every department,” he told reporters.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“The plan is for the top three batters to provide a strong start, after which the other players should take the score forward,” Babar revealed.

The skipper termed every match important, noting that they have learned from past mistakes.

“Our effort is to perform well in every match. We have learned a lot from our mistakes,” Babar maintained.

He talked about conditions and highlighted the different nature of the game, which could vary depending on the opposition.

“The aim is to maintain the strong performances from the last five matches. It is my opinion that conditions are not the same every day, and it is not easy to understand conditions on a daily basis.”

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Regarding strike rate, Babar said maintaining a strike rate can be challenging sometimes, while emphasizing the role of partnerships.

“We have to play according to the team’s requirements. I know if I am coming in the power play, I have to utilize the fielding restrictions. ”

“Sometimes it is not easy to maintain the strike rate. Partnerships are for this purpose because if one batter is struggling, then the other could assist him,” he concluded.

READ: PSL 11: Naqvi to request PM Shehbaz for fan attendance in stadiums

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam hailed the team’s all-around performance against Lahore Qalandars in the 19th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. 

Zalmi dominated Qalandars, sealing a decisive 76-run victory here at the National Bank Stadium after posting 173-7 on the board at the end of the 20 overs.

Kusal Mendis starred again with the bat, scoring 74 from 48 balls, and earned the player of the match award.

Meanwhile, Babar anchored the innings with 43 off 40 balls, including a six and three fours.

In reply, Lahore Qalandars were bowled out cheaply for 97 in 17 overs, thanks to Sufyan Muqeem and Michael Bracewell’s spin bowling.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

During the post-match presentation, Babar commended Peshawar Zalmi for a strong performance and revealed the game plan in the first six overs.

“It was a strong performance, especially with the way we started with the bat. We recognized early on that the pitch was playing a little differently, so our primary plan was to fully utilize the first six overs while the ball was hard,” he said.

“Once the Powerplay ended, the conditions became significantly slower, so we made a conscious effort to consolidate and ensure we didn’t lose wickets in clusters. Kusal Mendis played exceptionally well during that phase to keep the pressure on,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The right-hander also talked about his own form, noting that staying on the crease longer boosts his confidence.

“On a personal level, it always feels better the more time you spend out in the middle. When you stay at the crease, the runs start to come more naturally, and your confidence grows,” the skipper explained.

“My focus is always on doing what is best for the team—whether that’s rotating the strike to keep things moving or finding that odd boundary from time to time to keep the momentum in our favor,” he concluded.

READ: Here’s why David Warner is not playing against Hyderabad Kingsmen

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam etched his name deeper into the record books on Saturday, becoming the first batter to score 4000 runs in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The milestone came during Peshawar Zalmi’s ongoing PSL 11 clash against defending champions Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium.

Coming into the match, Babar required 39 runs to reach the landmark and got there with a single off Usama Mir on the first ball of the 14th over.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The leg-spinner, however, had the final say shortly after, dismissing the Zalmi captain in the following over. Babar ended his innings with a composed 43 off 40 deliveries.

Having featured in the league since its inaugural edition in 2016, Babar has been the most consistent performer in PSL history and now sits comfortably at the top of the all-time run charts.

He is followed by Fakhar Zaman, who has amassed 3018 runs, and Mohammad Rizwan, who has 2853 runs to his name.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Most runs in PSL

• Babar Azam (IU, KK, PZ) – 4004 runs
• Fakhar Zaman (LQ) – 3018 runs
• Mohammad Rizwan (KK, LQ, MS, RWP) – 2853 runs
• Rilee Rossouw (MS, QG) – 2366 runs
• Shoaib Malik (KK, MS, PZ, QG) – 2350 runs

Beyond the milestone, Babar has also been in fine touch in the ongoing PSL 11 season.

The right-hander is currently the third leading run-scorer in the season, having accumulated 212 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 70.66, while maintaining a strike rate of 135.89.

READ: Lahore Qalandars suffer major blow ahead of Peshawar Zalmi clash

KARACHI: Babar Azam etched his name deeper into the record books on Thursday, becoming the fastest batter in men’s T20 history to reach 12,000 runs, surpassing the long-standing mark held by Chris Gayle.

The milestone came during Peshawar Zalmi’s high-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash against Karachi Kings at the National Stadium.

Babar, who needed just 13 runs before the match, brought up the landmark in style by launching Khushdil Shah for a six over mid-on in the fourth over.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

In doing so, the Zalmi skipper became the 12th player in men’s T20 cricket to cross the 12,000-run mark, joining an elite list featuring the likes of Kieron Pollard, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, David Warner and Shoaib Malik.

Babar reached the milestone in just 338 innings, bettering Gayle’s previous record of 343 innings, while Kohli sits third on the list, having taken 360 innings to get there.

Fastest to 12,000 Runs in Men’s T20s

• Babar Azam – 338 innings
• Chris Gayle – 343 innings
• Virat Kohli – 360 innings
• David Warner – 368 innings
• Jos Buttler – 405 innings

Despite losing the record, Gayle continues to lead the all-time T20 run charts with 14,562 runs, followed closely by Pollard.

Babar Azam capped off his milestone performance with a dominant unbeaten 87, powering Zalmi to a formidable total of 246 for 3.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The bowlers then completed a comprehensive performance, skittling Karachi Kings for just 87 to seal a massive 159-run victory.

The emphatic win lifted Zalmi to second place on the PSL 11 points table, with three wins from their first four matches, further underlining their strong start to the campaign.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan released from Multan Sultans squad

KARACHI: Babar Azam chose to steer clear of comparisons with Virat Kohli, responding firmly to a question on the subject after his team, Peshawar Zalmi, registered a tense last-ball victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.

Chasing a modest yet tricky 146-run target, Zalmi were pushed to the limit on a challenging surface before eventually getting over the line on the final delivery with four wickets in hand.

Babar played a key role in the chase with a composed 43 off 37 balls but fell at a crucial juncture, leaving his side needing 30 runs from the final five overs.

The post-match press conference, however, shifted focus from the result to an all-too-familiar debate of Babar’s ability to finish games and his frequent comparisons with Kohli.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The Zalmi skipper appeared unimpressed with the line of questioning and quickly dismissed the comparison.

“Leave that topic. You can end it there,” Babar said, cutting short the question before elaborating on his approach instead.

He emphasised that match situations, rather than comparisons, dictate his style of play, highlighting the importance of reading conditions and building partnerships.

“The main thing is the scenario, what the team requires, what the run rate is, how to play, and how the pitch is behaving. You have to plan your game accordingly and build partnerships for the team,” he explained.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Babar Azam also pointed out that execution is not always straightforward, especially on difficult surfaces where even well-timed shots may not yield results.

“Sometimes you think it is an easy pitch, but you cannot execute, shots are hit, but not finding the gaps. You try but do not get the runs,” he said.

Reflecting on criticism around his finishing ability, the right-hander insisted that improvement is a gradual process and backed his record in pressure situations.

“In those moments, I remind myself of my strengths and my game plan, my best way of playing. Improvement comes with time; sometimes it takes months. I have finished a lot of matches; you may think I have not, but I have finished many,” he added.

READ: Hassan Khan breaks silence on decision to leave Pakistan for USA

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has suggested that star duo Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi should take a break from cricket to regain their form.

Azhar, who played 97 Tests and 53 ODIs for Pakistan, shared his views on both players during the ‘Sports Room’ Eid Special programme.

During the show, Azhar was asked a series of questions in rapid-fire round.  When the host sought his advice for Babar and Shaheen, he suggested that both take time off from international cricket.

“Babar should take a six-month break from international cricket,” he said.

“He [Shaheen] should also take three months’ rest so that he gathers his fitness. I feel that if he takes two or three months break, he will be a great bowler,” he added.

The host then asked what suggestion you would give to [Director of the High Performance Center] Aqib Javed after a recent press conference. Azhar said that he should keep focusing on achieving his key objectives regarding academies.

‘He [Shaheen] should also take three months’ rest. I feel that if he takes rest, he would be a great bowler.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The 41-year-old was also asked to pick the better captain among Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam.

”Babar [Azam],” he replied.

For the unversed, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have been in the spotlight due to their underwhelming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The leading run scorer in T20Is managed only 91 runs in six matches, averaging 22.75 with 46 his highest score.

As a result, he was not picked in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. However, Aqib Javed later revealed that the batter was not fit for the mega event.

Meanwhile, Shaheen took eight wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 10.52.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan cricketers share Eid-ul-Fitr greetings

LAHORE: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam amused fans with his cooking skills on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The batter was seen in chef attire in a video shared on his Instagram handle.

“Meethi Eid Signature,” the caption of the post read.

Babar was actively involved in the cooking process, carefully preparing a dish as part of his Eid celebrations. The star batter was seen making Sheer Khurma, a vermicelli-based dessert closely associated with Eid-ul-Fitr.

The video quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments with Eid wishes and praise for his effort.

For those unaware, Babar has been away from professional cricket since the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to an injury disclosed by National High Performance Director (NHPC) Aqib Javed.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Babar Azam (@babarazam)

He was not part of the Pakistan ODI squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh and also missed the National T20 Cup.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

However, neither the selection committee nor Babar provided an update regarding his fitness.

It is worth mentioning that Babar Azam is set to lead Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

For those unaware, PSL 11 will begin on March 26 across six venues in Pakistan, marking the start of a new era with the addition of two new teams.

Overall, 44 matches will be played, with the opening match scheduled between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium.

Each team will play 10 matches, with the top 4 teams advancing to the playoffs. The final of the event will be played on May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium.

The fixture list includes six double-headers, three of which will be played at Gaddafi Stadium. This will also be the first time that Faisalabad and Peshawar will be staging matches alongside Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.

READ: Hazlewood, Starc likely to miss start of IPL 2026

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi addressed questions over the exclusion of key players Babar Azam and Saim Ayub from the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, set to begin tomorrow at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

All three ODIs, scheduled for March 11, 13, and 15, will be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Speaking at a pre-series press conference on Tuesday, Afridi stressed that no one has been “dropped” and that the selections are aimed at testing bench strength and giving opportunities to emerging talent.

“Look, no one has been dropped for this series. We just wanted to give our youngsters a chance to show their skills,” Afridi explained.

“They are our future, and this series against Bangladesh is the perfect opportunity for them to understand their roles ahead of bigger events like the World Cup next year.”

The Pakistan squad for the series features six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, and Shamyl Hussain.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Afridi confirmed that Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Shamyl Hussain will make their ODI debuts, with Farhan and Sadaqat opening the innings and Hussain at one-down.

Addressing the expected challenges in Dhaka, Shaheen Afridi highlighted that Pakistan’s strength lies in its pace attack and downplayed the idea of relying heavily on spinners, referencing the West Indies’ spin-heavy strategy at the same venue during an ODI in October 2025.

“This will not be happening. Pakistan is known for fast bowling. I will back our pacers to take wickets, while the spinners will contribute and play their role in the win,” he said.

Afridi also acknowledged Bangladesh’s home advantage but expressed confidence in Pakistan’s preparations.

“Any team is tough in their own conditions. Bangladesh plays very good cricket at home, and we have prepared accordingly,” he added.

“Our recent ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka have been encouraging, and we want to continue that momentum.”

READ: Shaheen Afridi confirms three debutants in first ODI against Bangladesh