Leading from the front, Babar produced a captain’s knock of 103 off 59 balls, laced with 12 fours and four sixes. His innings anchored Zalmi’s imposing total of 221/7 after an explosive start provided by Mohammad Haris, who smashed 35 off just 16 deliveries.
Sri Lankan star Kusal Mendis added further momentum with a fluent 41, as Zalmi maintained a high scoring rate throughout the innings. Despite a three-wicket haul from Shadab Khan, Islamabad’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught.
Chasing a daunting 222, Islamabad United faltered under pressure despite a brisk 44 from Sameer Minhas. Regular wickets derailed their chase, and they were eventually bowled out for 151 in 18.4 overs.
Zalmi’s bowling unit delivered a collective performance, with Aaron Hardie leading the charge with three wickets. Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit chipped in with two wickets each to ensure there was no late comeback from Islamabad.
Babar’s all-round contribution, which also included two catches in the field, earned him both the Player of the Match and the MVP honors.
Bangladesh trio to miss the Final
Peshawar Zalmi’s journey to the final also featured contributions from three Bangladeshi players, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who were part of the squad during the tournament.
However, despite Zalmi securing a spot in the PSL final, all three players have been called back to Bangladesh to fulfill national team duties.
