LAHORE : Babar Azam delivered a sensational century to power Peshawar Zalmi into the final of the Pakistan Super League 2026, defeating Islamabad United by 70 runs in the Qualifier.
Babar struck a superb 103 off 59 balls as Zalmi posted a commanding 221/7. In response, Islamabad were bowled out for 151, unable to cope with the pressure.
The innings was significant beyond the result, as Babar equalled Virat Kohli and Abhishek Sharma for the most T20 centuries in a single country, with eight tons in Pakistan.
It also marked Babar’s ninth T20 century as captain—the most by any skipper—surpassing Faf du Plessis (eight). Kohli sits fourth on that list with five.
In PSL history, this was Babar’s fourth century, putting him level with Usman Khan for the most in the tournament. He has also amassed 588 runs this season, equalling Fakhar Zaman’s record for most runs in a single PSL campaign (2022).
“I’m starting to feel like I’m getting back to my best,” Babar said. “I’m keeping things simple, trusting my skills, and playing according to the situation.”
He added that strong starts in the powerplay and support from teammates, including aggressive batting at the other end, helped him maintain momentum throughout the innings.
Peshawar Zalmi will now contest the PSL 2026 final on May 3.
