Peshawar Zalmi has officially ended a nine-year drought by defeating the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL 11 final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The Babar Azam-led squad secured a comfortable five-wicket win, marking the franchise’s second title and their first since 2017. The victory was particularly sweet for fans who have waited nearly a decade to see the “Yellow Storm” lift the trophy again.
The match’s standout performer was all-rounder Aaron Hardie, who dominated the game in both departments. Hardie first dismantled the Kingsmen’s batting lineup with a clinical four-wicket haul, restricting the debutants to a modest total of 129. He then returned with the bat to anchor the chase, scoring an unbeaten half-century that guided Zalmi to the target with 28 balls to spare.
While the defeat was a tough end for the Hyderabad Kingsmen, their journey to the final in their debut season earned them significant respect across the cricketing community. For Babar Azam, the win represents a major career milestone as his first major T20 trophy as a captain. Federal Minister Ataullah Tarar joined the chorus of praise, highlighting the tournament’s success and the high quality of cricket displayed throughout the season.
