Yellow Storm faithful, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 season was a gut-punch. For the first time in PSL history, Peshawar Zalmi missed the playoffs, ending a nine-year streak (2016-2024). On May 18, 2025, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a 26-run loss to Lahore Qalandars (Qalandars 149/8, Zalmi 123/8) sealed our fate. Babar Azam’s unbeaten 56 couldn’t counter Fakhar Zaman’s blistering 60 or Salman Mirza’s fiery 4/31.
Finishing fifth with 4 wins, 6 losses, and a -0.293 net run rate, PSL X exposed Zalmi’s cracks: Babar’s cautious captaincy, Saim Ayub’s form crisis, Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s platinum flop, and draft missteps. This blog, crafted for Zalmi’s passionate fans, dissects the season’s highs and lows, analyzes key players, and charts a path for PSL 2026 glory. Let’s dive into the heartbreak and fuel our comeback!
Season Snapshot: From Hope to Heartbreak
PSL 2025, or PSL X, kicked off April 11 at Rawalpindi, with 34 matches across Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, started strong, winning 3 of their first 5 games, including a 120-run thrashing of Karachi Kings on April 19. But a late-season collapse—4 losses in their final 5 matches—saw them finish fifth with 8 points. The decisive blow came against Lahore Qalandars on May 18, a must-win game that ended our playoff hopes.
A brief suspension due to India-Pakistan tensions from May 6-16 disrupted momentum, but Zalmi’s downfall was self-inflicted: batting collapses, bowling leaks, and tactical errors. X fans mourned, with @HamzaKhan259 posting, “First time Zalmi’s out in 10 seasons 💔”. Let’s break down the season.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quetta Gladiators | 10 | 7 | 2 | 15 | +1.393 |
| Karachi Kings | 10 | 6 | 4 | 12 | +0.514 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 10 | 5 | 4 | 11 | +1.036 |
| Islamabad United | 10 | 5 | 4 | 11 | -0.044 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | -0.293 |
| Multan Sultans | 10 | 1 | 9 | 2 | -2.449 |
Zalmi’s Victories: Moments That Sparked Hope
Zalmi’s four wins in PSL 2025 showed their potential. Here’s a closer look:
- vs Karachi Kings (April 19, Karachi): Zalmi posted 227/7, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (45 off 30), Hussain Talat (50 off 30), and Saim Ayub (49 off 33) firing. Luke Wood’s 3/22 skittled Kings for 107/9, securing a 120-run win. This was Zalmi’s biggest victory margin of the season, per ESPNcricinfo.
- vs Lahore Qalandars (April 24, Lahore): Chasing 129, Zalmi cruised to 129/3 in 15.4 overs, led by Babar Azam’s 56* (40 balls, 6 fours) and Talat’s 51* (35 balls, 3 sixes). Alzarri Joseph’s 3/16 restricted Qalandars to 128/7. A 7-wicket win that fueled playoff dreams.
- vs Islamabad United (May 2, Lahore): Chasing 144, Zalmi won by 6 wickets, thanks to Maaz Sadaqat’s 55* (33 balls) and Babar’s 53* (42 balls). Mohammad Ali’s 3/26 kept United to 143/9. X fans buzzed, with @PeshawarZalmi posting, “Maaz is our future!”.
- vs Multan Sultans (May 5, Multan): Zalmi chased 109 in 13 overs, winning by 7 wickets. Saim Ayub’s 49 (33 balls) and Babar’s 30* (25 balls) led the way, while Ahmed Daniyal’s 3/17 bowled Sultans out for 108. A clinical performance, per Wisden.
These wins highlighted Zalmi’s firepower, but inconsistency plagued them. Which victory got you hyped, Yellow Storm?
The Losses: Where Zalmi Crumbled
Zalmi’s six losses exposed their frailties. Key defeats included:
- vs Quetta Gladiators (April 12, Rawalpindi): Quetta’s 216/3 (Saud Shakeel 70*) overwhelmed Zalmi, who were bowled out for 136 (Babar 35). An 80-run loss set a grim tone.
- vs Karachi Kings (April 21, Karachi): Zalmi’s 148 (Babar 46) wasn’t enough as Kings chased it in 19.5 overs, led by David Warner’s 60*. A 2-wicket loss stung, per CricTracker.
- vs Quetta Gladiators (April 27, Rawalpindi): Quetta’s 205/4 (Rilee Rossouw 80) led to a 64-run win, with Zalmi at 141/9 (Saim Ayub 20). Arif Yaqoob’s 0/45 was costly.
- vs Quetta Gladiators (May 7, Rawalpindi): Quetta’s record 263/3 (Khawaja Nafay 100*) crushed Zalmi, who managed 154/9. A 109-run loss was their worst of the season.
- vs Karachi Kings (May 17, Rawalpindi): Kings’ 237/4 (Warner 86, Vince 72) outmuscled Zalmi’s 214/5 (Babar 94), resulting in a 23-run defeat. Luke Wood’s 4/19 was a rare highlight.
- vs Lahore Qalandars (May 18, Rawalpindi): Chasing 149/8 (Fakhar 60), Zalmi fell to 123/8 (Babar 56*). Salman Mirza’s 4/31 sealed a 26-run loss, ending their season.
X fans vented, with @iamAhmadhaseeb noting, “Zalmi’s think tank is crazy for bowling first in must-win games!”. Batting collapses and death-over leaks were recurring issues.
Key Loss Snapshot: vs Lahore Qalandars (May 18)
- Toss: Zalmi fielded first
- Qalandars: 149/8 (13 overs, Fakhar Zaman 60, Ahmed Daniyal 2/22)
- Zalmi: 123/8 (Babar 56*, Salman Mirza 4/31)
- Result: Qalandars won by 26 runs
Babar Azam: Batting Beacon, Captaincy Conundrum
Babar Azam was Zalmi’s lifeline, scoring 288 runs in 10 matches (average 36.00, strike rate 128.57). His fifties—56* vs Qalandars (April 24), 75 vs Kings (April 19), and 53* vs United (May 2)—were masterclasses. His 94 off 49 balls vs Kings (May 17) nearly chased 237, earning X praise: “Babar carries Zalmi!” (@BabarFanClub). But his captaincy drew flak. Choosing to bowl first in high-scoring Rawalpindi games, like vs Qalandars (May 18), backfired.
Underusing Maaz Sadaqat’s spin and rigid batting orders (Talat at No. 4 vs Kings, April 21) cost matches. X user @anngrypakiistan posted, “Babar’s tactics need a reboot!” Yet, his calm rallied wins like vs United (May 2). For PSL 2026, Babar must pair his batting brilliance with bolder leadership. Keep him as skipper, fans?
Babar’s PSL 2025 Stats
- Runs: 288
- Average: 36.00
- Strike Rate: 128.7
- Fifties: 3
- Best: 94 (60 balls)
Player Performances: Heroes and Flops
Saim Ayub’s Nightmare
Saim Ayub, Zalmi’s young opener, crashed in PSL 2025, scoring 174 runs in 10 matches (average 17.40, strike rate 125.17). Three ducks, including a golden duck vs Qalandars (May 18), highlighted his woes against pace, especially Shaheen Afridi’s swing. His and 50 vs Qalandars 49 vs Sultans (May 5) were the only sparks. Post-injury rust (Champions Trophy) and technical flaws sank him, per CricTracker. X fans were brutal: “Saim’s confidence is gone!” (@SaimStan). Saim’s PSL 2026 revival hinges on fixing his technique.
- Runs: 174
- Average: 17.40
- Strike Rate: 125.17
- Best: 50 (38 balls)
Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s Platinum Bust
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, a platinum pick, flopped, scoring 92 runs in 8 matches (average 13.14, strike rate 122.66). His 45 vs Kings (April 19) was his only notable knock, but ducks vs Qalandars (April 24) and 5 vs Qalandars (May 18) drew ire. Weak against spin (Abrar Ahmed’s 3/30 vs Quetta) and slow starts hurt, per Wisden. X user @ZalmiArmy posted, “TKC’s a waste of platinum!” Zalmi must rethink his role for 2026.
- Runs: 92
- Average: 13.14
- Strike Rate: 122.66
- Best: 52 (30 balls)
Hussain Talat’s Clutch Spark
Hussain Talat was Zalmi’s unsung hero, scoring 205 runs (average 41.00, strike rate 134.86) and taking key wickets. His 51* vs Qalandars (April 24) and 50 vs Kings (April 19) were pivotal, with a 93-run stand with Babar vs Qalandars a highlight. His 2/18 vs Qalandars (April 24) showed all-round value. X fans cheered: “Hussain’s our finisher!” (@TalatLover). Talat’s a lock for PSL 2026.
- Runs: 205
- Average: 41.00
- Strike Rate: 134.86
- Best: 51* (35 balls)
Alzarri Joseph’s Pace Fire
Alzarri Joseph led Zalmi’s bowling with 10 wickets in 9 matches (economy 7.80). His 3/16 vs Qalandars (April 24) and 2/22 vs Qalandars (May 18) were standout spells. His 150 kph bouncers rattled Fakhar Zaman, earning X praise: “Joseph’s a beast!” (@PZBowling). Joseph’s consistency makes him a PSL 2026 must-keep.
- Wickets: 12
- Economy: 8.80
- Best: 3/15
Others: Mixed Fortunes
- Mohammad Haris: 247 runs (average 27.44, with 40 off 25 vs United (April 15), but lacked consistency.
- Maaz Sadaqat: 55* vs United (May 2) showed promise; a PSL 2026 prospect.
- Abdul Samad: 61 runs (average 15.25), a draft flop.
- Mitchell Owen: 102 runs, another poor pick. X user @PZDiehard posted, “Samad and Owen are dead weight!”
Lahore Qalandars Rivalry: A Painful Split
Zalmi lead Qalandars 14-10 in PSL history, but 2025’s 1-1 split hurt. On April 24, Zalmi’s 7-wicket win (Babar 56*, Talat 51*) was dominant. But the May 18 loss (26 runs), with Fakhar’s 60 and Mirza’s 4/31, ended our season. X user @RivalryTalk posted, “Qalandars broke our hearts!”. Haris Rauf, firmly with Qalandars, took 2/25 in the final game, per ESPNcricinfo. This rivalry will fuel PSL 2026 battles.
Head-to-Head (PSL 2025)
- April 24: Zalmi won by 7 wickets
- May 18: Qalandars won by 26 runs
Draft and Management: Where It Went Wrong
Zalmi’s January 13 draft at Lahore Fort was a disaster. Platinum pick Tom Kohler-Cadmore (120 runs) and silver picks Mitchell Owen (80 runs) and Abdul Samad (50 runs) bombed, unlike Quetta’s smart pick of Hasan Nawaz (200 runs). Ignoring wrist-spinners and finishers left the squad unbalanced, per CricTracker. Daren Sammy’s coaching felt predictable, with no answers for collapses like vs Quetta (May 7). X user @DraftGuru posted, “Zalmi’s draft was clueless!” For PSL 2026, data-driven picks and a T20-specialist coach are non-negotiable.
- Flops: Kohler-Cadmore, Owen, Samad
- Fix: Draft spinners (Usama Mir), finishers (Iftikhar Ahmed)
PSL 2026 Blueprint: Rebuilding the Yellow Storm
Zalmi’s 2025 scars fuel their PSL 2026 redemption. Here’s the plan:
- Release Underperformers: Drop Kohler-Cadmore, Owen, and Samad—they’re not T20-ready.
- Draft Smart: Target wrist-spinners like Usama Mir and finishers like Iftikhar Ahmed for balance.
- Coaching Revamp: Replace Sammy with a T20 guru like Andy Flower for fresh tactics.
- Babar’s Role: Move him to No. 3 for flexibility; encourage aggressive captaincy.
- Youth Investment: Nurture Maaz Sadaqat and Ali Raza for depth.
X fans are hopeful, with @ZalmiFuture posting, “2026 is our title!”. A balanced squad and bold mindset can restore Zalmi’s glory.
Conclusion: From Pain to Power
Zalmi’s PSL 2025 was a bitter milestone—fifth place, 4 wins, and no playoffs for the first time. Babar’s 288 runs, Talat’s 220, and Joseph’s 10 wickets kept us alive, but Saim’s 150 runs, Kohler-Cadmore’s 120, and draft blunders sank us. The Qalandars loss on May 18 stung deepest, ending our nine-year streak. But the Yellow Storm rises again. With smart drafts and fierce resolve, PSL 2026 is our chance to reclaim the title. Share your thoughts: Can Babar lead us to glory? Vote below and join the #YellowStorm!
Poll: Should Babar stay Zalmi captain?
- Yes
- No
FAQs
- Why did Peshawar Zalmi miss PSL 2025 playoffs?
Zalmi’s 4 wins, 6 losses, and -0.293 NRR, plus batting collapses (123/8 vs Qalandars) and tactical errors, led to a fifth-place finish. - How was Babar Azam in PSL 2025?
Babar scored 288 runs (avg. 36.00, SR 128.7 with three fifties, but his cautious captaincy sparked debate. - What happened in Zalmi vs Qalandars on May 18, 2025?
Qalandars scored 149/8 (Fakhar 60). Zalmi fell to 123/8 (Babar 56*), with Mirza’s 4/31 sealing a 26-run win. - Why did Saim Ayub struggle in PSL 2025?
Saim’s 150 runs (avg. 15.00) and three ducks stemmed from weak technique vs pace and post-injury rust. - Who shone for Zalmi in PSL 2025?
Hussain Talat (220 runs) and Alzarri Joseph (10 wickets) were clutch performers. - How can Zalmi win PSL 2026?
Release flops, draft spinners and finishers, hire a T20 coach, and back Babar with bold tactics.
