Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam expressed disappointment over his team’s execution after a 23-run defeat to Karachi Kings in the 27th match of PSL 10 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The loss has put Zalmi in a do-or-die situation for a playoff spot.
Babar’s decision to bowl first backfired as Karachi Kings posted a massive 237/4. David Warner and James Vince punished Zalmi’s bowlers with a 162-run partnership, while Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nabi added a rapid 70 runs in just 23 balls at the death.
Despite Babar’s brilliant 94 off 49 balls, Zalmi’s chase fell short as they managed 214/5 in 20 overs. The defeat left them with eight points, needing a win against Lahore Qalandars in their final league-stage match to stay in playoff contention.
Reflecting on the performance, Babar admitted the Kings scored beyond a par total due to Zalmi’s failure to stick to their bowling plans. He pointed out that sloppy fielding, dropped catches, and no-balls contributed to the defeat and must be corrected ahead of the next game.
Babar also said the batters failed to build strong partnerships in the second half of the chase, which stalled momentum. “We started well with the bat, but couldn’t finish strongly. In death overs, their bowlers executed better than ours,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Zalmi skipper emphasized staying focused for Sunday’s virtual knockout match against Lahore. “We must bounce back and give our best. There’s no room for error now, and our next game is everything,” Babar said.
PSL 10 Points Table
| Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quetta Gladiators (Q) | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1.530 |
| Karachi Kings (Q) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0.514 |
| Islamabad United (Q) | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10 | -0.044 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0.958 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | -0.176 |
| Multan Sultans | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | -2.708 |
The high-stakes clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars will decide who claims the final playoff spot in what promises to be a thrilling finish to the league stage.