NEW DELHI: The emotions immediately took over in the Peshawar Zalmi camp, especially captain Babar Azam, the moment Farhan Yousaf struck the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 title. Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final to clinch the trophy at a roaring Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The PSL 2026 triumph marked Babar’s first title as captain, and the raw emotions were clearly captured on camera.
Babar, sitting in the dugout, was seen holding back tears as the moment sank in.
The victory also marked Peshawar Zalmi’s second PSL title and their first since 2017. Although Babar had previously been part of PSL-winning sides, this was his first as a leader, making it even more special.
After Babar lifted the trophy, the team erupted in celebration. His teammates hoisted him on their shoulders as they took a victory lap around the ground.
In the post-match press conference, Babar shut down speculation about his participation across formats, reaffirming his desire to continue playing all three. He stressed that it is not a player’s role to choose formats, but to play wherever required.
Babar has been a mainstay for Pakistan across formats for most of his career, but recently the 31-year-old has struggled for consistency and endured a lean run, including a quiet outing at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.
However, his title-winning campaign with Peshawar Zalmi has reignited his form. He scored two centuries in 11 matches, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with a record-equalling 588 runs.
“My focus is on all three formats. It’s not for the player to decide (which format to skip); a player’s job is to play. In my opinion, every player should play every form of cricket. You shouldn’t focus only on the white ball or T20s. Red-ball cricket gives you immense experience. It teaches you how to build an innings and gives you patience,” said Babar in a post-match presser following the PSL 2026 title run.
“When you play four-day cricket or any domestic circuit, you gain the experience of scoring ‘long’ runs. You should play all three formats because each one helps the other. Red ball helps you in T20s and ODIs. When you play Test matches, the patience and mindset you develop—the art of playing a long innings—benefit you significantly in white-ball cricket,” he added.