Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam reflected on his team’s loss to Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 9) second eliminator. He attributed the defeat to a subpar bowling effort in the game’s latter stages. “Our performance dropped after the tenth over, marking a shift from a winning stance to a disappointing outcome,” Babar stated, emphasizing the pivotal moment that led to their downfall.
He praised Imad Wasim and Haider Ali for their game-changing partnership, significantly contributing to United’s win. On X, Azam thanked fans for their unwavering support and vowed a strong comeback.
United’s pursuit of Zalmi’s 186-run target began poorly, with the team losing three wickets early. Martin Guptill’s brief counterattack, yielding 34 runs off 21 balls, was a highlight before his dismissal ended the powerplay on a tense note.
The game saw a potential shift when Azam Khan joined Imad, aiming for a comeback. Their effort was cut short when Luke Wood took Azam’s wicket, yet Imad and Haider’s partnership steered United to victory.
This win propels United to their first PSL final since 2018, where they will face Multan Sultans. Zalmi’s innings were bolstered by Saim Ayub’s impressive 73 runs and Mohammad Haris’s 40, making a formidable 185/5. Naseem Shah led United’s bowling with 3/30, supported by Shadab Khan and Obed McCoy’s contributions.
