Peshawar Zalmi owner hints at ‘major changes’ after disappointing PSL 10 campaign

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi has expressed disappointment following the team’s exit from the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, as the 2017 champions failed to qualify for the playoffs stage for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Afridi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to address the team’s loyal supporters in a heartfelt message. Acknowledging the pain of defeat, he reaffirmed the franchise’s commitment to growth, player development, and a stronger comeback in future seasons.

“To our passionate Zalmi fans: This season’s outcome hurts, but this platform remains a launchpad for national careers. “Major changes” are coming—we’ll rebuild with grit and purpose. Request to all Zalmi Fans, as a national product, let’s unite to support all PSL teams in the spirit of cricket! Stay with us—the storm returns stronger!”

It is pertinent to mention that the Babar-led Peshawar Zalmi’s consistent run in the PSL playoffs came to an abrupt end with a 26-run defeat to Lahore Qalandars in Rawalpindi. The rain-shortened must-win encounter saw Zalmi chasing a target of 150 in 13 overs but managing only 123 for 8.

The result ended one of the most consistent legacies in PSL history. Since the league’s inception, Zalmi had never missed the knockout stage—clinching the title in 2017 under Darren Sammy’s leadership and reaching four finals overall.

For the unversed, Zalmi concluded their 2025 PSL campaign with four wins and six defeats in ten matches, finishing with eight points and a negative net run-rate of -0.293.

Babar Azam blames poor fielding for defeat against Qalandars

Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam rued the sloppy fielding as the core reason behind their defeat against Lahore Qalandars in the high-stakes Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 match here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The defeat marked a new low for Peshawar Zalmi as they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the history of the marquee league. Meanwhile, Babar, while speaking to the broadcasters after the match, termed dropped catches as the key factor behind the defeat.

The star batter shared that they were aware that the match would be high-scoring but reiterated that sloppy fielding allowed Qalandars to amass more than 130 runs, at which they were aiming to restrict the two-time champions. “Overall, we knew that it would be a high-scoring one. We didn’t bowl well and struggled with our execution in this game too,” said Babar.

“The impact of dropping catches was huge. If you drop catches, the other team will dominate. We expected them to score 130, but the score went to 149. I like to bat in any position, but I always try to keep my batting position as per the team’s demand,” he added.