Ahmed Shehzad Backs Babar Azam After Zalmi’s PSL Exit

Following Peshawar Zalmi’s elimination from Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has voiced his support for the team’s captain, Babar Azam.

Zalmi’s journey in the tournament concluded after a 26-run defeat against Lahore Qalandars in their final group stage encounter on Sunday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Shehzad took to social media platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, to defend Babar Azam. He questioned why the weight of expectations invariably rests on a single player’s shoulders.

“Indeed, Babar Azam is experiencing a dip in form, and his most recent half-century was slow-paced. However, why does he bear the entirety of the pressure? Cricket is a collaborative sport. What contributions are the other ten players making? He embraced risks today, which was the appropriate strategy. Where are the remaining batters when their contributions are most crucial? Accountability cannot be selectively applied,” Shehzad posted.

This loss brings an end to Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi’s consistent streak of playoff appearances in the PSL. In a rain-affected, critical match, Zalmi were given a revised target of 150 runs in 13 overs but could only muster 123 for 8.

This defeat concludes one of the most consistent records in PSL history. Since the league’s creation, Zalmi had always qualified for the knockout stage. They secured the trophy in 2017 under Darren Sammy’s leadership and reached the final four times overall.

Zalmi concluded their PSL 2025 campaign with four victories and six defeats out of ten games, earning eight points and a net run-rate of -0.293.

The playoff situation will gain clarity following today’s match between Karachi Kings and Islamabad United in Rawalpindi.

Quetta Gladiators will compete against either Karachi Kings or Islamabad United in the first Qualifier on May 21 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The victor of that game will directly qualify for the PSL 10 final.