Peshawar Zalmi were crowned PSL 2026 champions on Sunday, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final after Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie produced a career-best 4 for 27 with the ball and an unbeaten 56 off 39 deliveries with the bat.
Zalmi become only the third franchise to win multiple PSL titles, following three-time winners Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars. Their previous championship was in 2017.
Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Babar Azam chose to bat first on a green-tinged pitch but watched his side collapse for 129. Saim Ayub top-scored with 54 off 50, but the middle order surrendered four wickets for two runs in eight balls — including two run-outs. Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera was dismissed via a Michael Bracewell direct hit in the eighth over after a brief delay during which the third umpire confirmed he had not been obstructed by the bowler.
Hardie struck twice in the 18th over, removing Ayub at the start and Akif Javed at the end to register his first T20 four-wicket haul. The total was the lowest first-innings score in any PSL final.
Zalmi’s chase looked in serious trouble at 40 for 4 after Mohammad Ali removed Babar and Mohammad Haris in his opening over, Hunain Shah dismissed Kusal Mendis, and Akif Javed sent Bracewell back. Hardie then launched the recovery, smashing Hunain for three boundaries to close the powerplay. He added 115 with Abdul Samad (48 off 34) to take Zalmi to 130 for 5 in 15.2 overs.
Kingsmen had reached the final after one of the most remarkable turnarounds in PSL history, winning seven of their last eight league matches despite losing their opening four. Their final defeat ended a campaign that had defied every pre-tournament forecast.
Brief scores: Hyderabad Kingsmen 129 in 18 overs (Saim Ayub 54; Aaron Hardie 4-27) lost to Peshawar Zalmi 130/5 in 15.2 overs (Hardie 56*, Abdul Samad 48; Mohammad Ali 3-38).
The PSL final caps a tournament that drew several Sri Lankans, including Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis. The competition has previously been the subject of disciplinary action against Sri Lankan players — notably the one-year ban imposed on Dasun Shanaka for breaching his Lahore Qalandars contract.
Source: The Island — Cricinfo via Island.
