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Peshawar Zalmi

Peshawar-based cricket franchise in the Pakistan Super League From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NicknameYellow Storm
CaptainBabar Azam
Quick facts Nickname, League ...
Peshawar Zalmi
پشاور زلمی
NicknameYellow Storm
LeaguePakistan Super League
Personnel
CaptainBabar Azam
CoachOttis Gibson
OwnerJaved Afridi[1][2]
Team information
CityPeshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Founded2015; 11 years ago (2015)
Home groundImran Khan Cricket Stadium[3]
Capacity35,000
History
PSL wins2 (2017, 2026)
Official websitewww.peshawarzalmi.com

Home kit

Away kit

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The Peshawar Zalmi (Urdu: پشاور زلمی; Pashto: پېښور زلمي; meaning "Peshawar's Youth") are a professional Twenty20 cricket franchise that compete in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The team is based in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and was established in 2015 following the announcement of the inaugural PSL by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).[4] The franchise is owned by Javed Afridi, CEO of Haier Pakistan.[1]

Peshawar Zalmi have won the PSL title twice, in the 2017 and 2026 seasons. They defeated Quetta Gladiators in 2017,[5] and Hyderabad Kingsmen in the 2026 final.[6] The team have also finished as runners-up twice, in 2018 and 2021.[7]

The team's home ground is Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar. Babar Azam has captained the side since the 2023 season.[8]

Kamran Akmal is the franchise's all-time leading run-scorer, while Wahab Riaz is its leading wicket-taker.[9][10]

Franchise history

On 3 December 2015, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the owners of five city-based franchises for the first season of the Pakistan Super League. The Peshawar franchise was sold to Javed Afridi for US$16 million for a ten-year period.[11][12]

In November 2025, following the conclusion of the original contract, the franchise renewed its rights for another decade (2026–2035). The renewal was based on a valuation conducted by Ernst & Young, which shifted the financial model from US dollars to Pakistani Rupees. Under the new agreement, the annual franchise fee for Peshawar Zalmi was set at Rs. 490 million.[13][14]

2016 season

Peshawar began their 2016 season well, winning their first two matches. After a loss to Quetta Gladiators[15] the team went on to win six of their eight group stage matches and finished first in the points table, qualifying for the playoffs. The first playoff match was against Quetta in qualifier 1. The match came down to the last ball Quetta winning by one run, Peshawar scoring 132 runs in reply to Quetta's 133 runs.[16] As a result of their first-place position in the group table, Peshawar then went on to play Islamabad United in the second qualifier match. Peshawar also lost this match and were eliminated

2017 season

Kamran Akmal with 353 runs was the leading run-scorer and also the player of the tournament in 2017.

Peshawar traded Aamer Yamin for Sohaib Maqsood of Lahore Qalandars during the off-season.[17] During the 2017 Pakistan Super League players draft they retained 10 players and signed eight, including Overseas players Shakib Al Hasan, Eoin Morgan, Chris Jordan and Alex Hales. Shakib and Tamim were not available for selection during the initial stage of tournament due to national duties as they were in India to play only test match. Later Alex Hales and Shakib Al Hasan were replaced with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Marlon Samuels and Mohammad Shahzad was replaced with Andre Fletcher while Tamim Iqbal was replaced with Samit Patel.[18] [19]

In their first game of PSL 2017, Peshawar Zalmi lost to the Islamabad United by 7 wickets.[20] In their next game against Karachi Kings, Zalmi won by 7 wickets in pursuit of 120 runs. Eoin Morgan starred in the chase with an unbeaten innings of 80 runs off 57 balls.[21] Following this the Zalmi were involved in a low-scoring thriller with the Lahore Qalandars that saw the former collapse in the chase of just 60 runs before getting over the line with 3 wickets to spare.[22]

As the tournament moved to Sharjah, Zalmi's first game against Quetta Gladiators was abandoned after repeated showers and the two teams shared the points from the bout.[23] Following this, against Islamabad United, the Zalmis lost a hard-fought game that went down to the last ball. After being put in to bat by United, Zalmi could only manage a below-par score of 137 runs and never really got going. But the team's bowlers bowled exceedingly well to make a contest out of it.[24] In their final game of the Sharjah leg, the Zalmis continued their losing streak after being beaten by Karachi Kings in a thrilling contest. Setting up a target of 175 runs, the Kings had the Zalmis reduced to 69–6 before Shahid Afridi and Darren Sammy combined in a 70-runs partnership that almost won the game for the Zalmis. However, they couldn't see the game through as the Zalmis fell short by 9 runs.[25]

With the tournament shifting back to Dubai, the Zalmis registered consecutive wins against Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators respectively. Against the Qalandars, the team put up a target of 167 runs and then successful defended it after inducing a batting collapse of 5 wickets for 6 runs from the opposition. In the end prevailing by 17 runs and securing a playoff spot.[26] But with the Gladiators, the team suffered a batting collapse of their own. Chasing a below-par total of 129 runs, the Zalmis were at one time reduced to 52–6 before a vintage performance from Shahid Afridi, who scored 45 off 23 balls, ensured that his team won with 2 wickets left intact.[27] In the first playoffs (qualifier 1) they faced Gladiators at Sharjah it proved to be a replica of last year qualifier 1 where quetta clinched 1 run win over Zalmi. after sent into bat by Zalmi Quetta gave a huge target of 200 runs thanks to Ahmed Shahzad for his 71 off 38 balls. In reply Zalmi had a poor start losing 2 early wickets for less than 10 runs, then came Mohammad Hafeez who started hitting Gladiators all over the stadium he with Dawid Malan put up a 100+ runs partnership. After Hafeez got out Shahid Afridi came looking in best six hitting form scoring 34 off just 17 balls shifting match in Zalmi's favour, but got out at wrong time and as a result Zalmi collapsed in the last over of the match. Left arm spinner for Quetta, Muhammad Nawaz was the bowler who didn't let Zalmi score 2 runs off last 3 balls hence, Gladiators progressed into the final and Zalmi into the qualifier 2[28] where they defeated Karachi Kings by 24 runs. Batting first Zalmi scored 181 runs for 3 wickets due to Kamran Akmal's brilliant 104 runs from 65 balls. Wahab Riaz and Chris Jordan 3-for took Zalmi into the final for the first time ever. Kamran was adjudged man of the match in the end.[29]

In the final, Zalmis defeated Quetta Gladiators – the runners-up of the inaugural edition of the PSL, by 58 runs batting first. Zalmi's left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar took 3 wickets for 16 runs. In the first innings, Gladiators' Rayad Emrit took 2 wickets in the 17th over, which left the score at 112 runs for 6 wickets but Darren Sammy clubbed 33 runs in the last two overs taking the Zalmis total to 148 runs.[30]

2018 season

In the opening match of 2018 season, defending champions Zalmi suffered a loss against new entrants Multan Sultans by 7 wickets.[31] The next game, Zalmi secured a comfortable 34-runs win over Islamabad United. Defending a target of 176 runs, Zalmi's debuting fast bowler, Umaid Asif, was the star performer as he reduced the opposition to 25–4 inside the powerplay.[32] Continuing on, the team suffered a loss against Karachi Kings in a closely fought game. Batting first, the Zalmis lost wickets with regular consistency. Only Dwayne Smith's unbeaten innings of 71 runs got them to a respectable total of 131 runs. Defending it, they took the game to the last three balls before the Kings prevailed by 5 wickets.[33]

As the tournament shifted to Sharjah, the team won a thriller against rivals Quetta Gladiators. Batting first, the Gladiators set a target of 143 runs in a batting display that was punctuated with starts and stops on a two-paced pitch. In reply, the Zalmis were on course for victory at 107–2 before losing three quick wickets to end up requiring 22 runs from the last two overs. At this point, an injured Darren Sammy single-handedly won the match for his team by striking 16 runs from 4 balls to finish the game with 2 balls to go.[34] The following game, the Zalmis beat Lahore Qalandars comfortably in the chase of a low target of 101 runs. The margin of the win was 10 wickets – the first such instance in the history of the PSL. Additionally, this was the first game for Zalmi's main pacer, Hasan Ali this season as he had been sidelined due to an injury.[35]

In the final, Peshawar Zalmi lost to Islamabad United by three wickets. Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and elected to bat first. Peshawar's in-form batsman Kamran Akmal was out lbw for 1 run off 8 balls, with Samit Patel taking the wicket in the third over early on. Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson were involved in a fourth-wicket fifty-partnership. Later, Wahab Riaz's 28 runs off 14 balls ensured their team reached to a total of 148 runs. Islamabad's Luke Ronchi hit five sixes in the first five overs as he raced to 45 runs off just 15 balls, before he got out in the ninth over after scoring a 26-ball 52, batting second. But a sudden collapse resulted in Islamabad losing six wickets for 20 runs leaving them at 116/6. Akmal then dropped a catch at fine leg when Asif Ali attempted a pull shot off Umaid Asif with Islamabad needing 30 runs off 33 balls. Asif Ali then hit three sixes on the trot off Hasan Ali. Islamabad's Faheem Ashraf hooked Wahab Riaz for six with just one run required in the 17th over.[36]

2019 season

Peshawar Zalmi finished the group stage with first position by winning seven of their matches and losing only three. Peshawar came on top because of the higher run rate.[37] Peshawar Zalmi lost to Quetta Gladiators in the qualifier by 10 runs.[38]

In the final in Karachi, Peshawar Zalmi lost to Gladiators by 8 wickets becoming the runners up.[39]

2020 season

In January before the season started, they signed Hashim Amla as batting mentor of the team, replacing Younis Khan for the job.[40][41]

2021 season

Peshawar Zalmi concluded the tournament in the Pakistan Super League with a respectable standing. Having played 10 matches, they secured 5 wins and experienced 5 losses, accumulating a total of 10 points.

2022 season

2023 season

2024 season

2025 season

Zalmi finished 5th on the points table and exited in group stage.

2026 season

Peshawar Zalmi were coached by Ottis Gibson and captained by Babar Azam during the 2026 Pakistan Super League.[42] They finished the league stage at the top of the points table with 17 points, losing one match during the group stage.[43] Peshawar qualified for the final after defeating Islamabad United by 70 runs in the Qualifier.[44]

In the final, played on 3 May 2026 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets to win their second Pakistan Super League title.[45] Hyderabad were bowled out for 129 in 18 overs, and Peshawar reached the target in 15.2 overs, finishing on 130/5.[46] Aaron Hardie was named player of the match after taking 4 wickets for 27 runs and scoring an unbeaten 56.[47]

Team identity

The team's identity was unveiled on 13 December 2015 by owner Javed Afridi at the Army Public School Peshawar. The name Zalmi is a Pashto word meaning "youth."[48] The logo depicts a traditional Peshawari turban with cricket stumps, using shades of blue, yellow, and white to represent the region's pride, skies, and energy of the people.[49] Originally yellow and blue, the kit colours switched to yellow and black starting in PSL 4.[50]

In 2019, Nielsen valued the franchise at US$40.5 million, ranking it as Pakistan's biggest sports entity. The team has engaged various celebrity ambassadors over the years, including actors Hamza Ali Abbasi, Mahira Khan, Humaima Malick, and Sana Javed. Regional artist Gul Panra and Turkish actress Esra Bilgiç have also represented the franchise.[51]

More information Year, Kit manufacturer ...
Year Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (chest) Shirt sponsor (back) Chest branding Sleeve branding
2016 Zalmi In-House Bahria Town Giggly Boom Boom Brighto Paints Hum TV, Junaid Jamshed, Zic Oil
2017 General Petroleum Jivi Mobiles Super Power, Jang, Khaleej Times
2018 Haier RD MGI McDonald's Pakistan, Dawn News, Jang
2019 Zalmi TV RD McDonald's Pakistan, Sprite, TCL
2020 TCL Huawei McDonald's Pakistan, Sprite, Airlink, MG
2021 McDonald's Pakistan, Oppo, Airlink
2022 McDonald's Pakistan, MG, Turkish Airlines
2023 Gym Armour McDonald's Pakistan, MG, 100 Century Town, Ventured Knowmads
2024 Ufone Bank Makramah, Dany Tech, TCL Corporation
2025 Bank Makramah Cheezious Clear Men, EFU Insurance, Newage Cables
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International representation

Sponsorship

Turkish Airlines signed a deal to become the official airline sponsor of the franchise for Pakistan Super League 6 starting 20 February 2021.[52]

Global Zalmi

Global Zalmi comprises the International Sports Branches of Peshawar Zalmi spread across 25 countries. Each year the teams from these countries come and play the Global Zalmi League.[citation needed]

Current squad

Key
  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
  •  *  denotes a player who is fully unavailable
  •  *  denotes a player who will be partially unavailable
More information No., Name ...
No. Name Nationality Birth date Salary Batting style Bowling style Year signed Notes
Batsmen
56 Babar Azam  Pakistan (1994-10-15) 15 October 1994 (age 31) PKR 7.0 crore Right-handed Right-arm off break 2022 Captain
43 Abdul Samad  Pakistan (1998-01-25) 25 January 1998 (age 28) PKR 2.8 crore Right-handed Right-arm leg break 2025
14 James Vince  England (1991-03-14) 14 March 1991 (age 35) PKR 3.00 crore Right-handed Right-arm medium pace 2026
45 Mirza Tahir Baig  Pakistan (1998-10-15) 15 October 1998 (age 27) PKR 60 lakh Right-handed Right-arm medium pace 2026
20 Farhan Yousaf  Pakistan (2007-12-15) 15 December 2007 (age 18) PKR 60 lakh Right-handed — 2026
97 Tanzid Hasan  Bangladesh (2000-12-01) 1 December 2000 (age 25) PKR 60 lakh Left-handed — 2026
Wicket-keepers
29 Mohammad Haris  Pakistan (2001-03-30) 30 March 2001 (age 25) PKR 2.20 crore Right-handed — 2026
1 Kusal Mendis  Sri Lanka (1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 (age 31) PKR 4.20 crore Right-handed — 2026
All-rounders
21 Aaron Hardie  Australia (1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 27) PKR 6.30 crore Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2026
4 Michael Bracewell  New Zealand (1991-02-14) 14 February 1991 (age 35) PKR 4.20 crore Left-handed Right-arm off break 2026
95 Iftikhar Ahmed  Pakistan (1990-09-03) 3 September 1990 (age 35) PKR 1.80 crore Right-handed Right-arm off break 2026
65 Aamir Jamal  Pakistan (1996-07-05) 5 July 1996 (age 30) PKR 1.90 crore Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2026
7 Khalid Usman  Pakistan (1986-05-20) 20 May 1986 (age 40) PKR 60 lakh Right-handed Slow left arm orthodox 2026
86 Brian Bennett  Zimbabwe (2003-11-10) 10 November 2003 (age 22) PKR 25,67 core Right-handed Right-arm off break 2026
Bowlers
13 Sufiyan Muqeem  Pakistan (1999-11-15) 15 November 1999 (age 26) PKR 4.48 crore Left-handed Left-arm unorthodox 2023
18 Ali Raza  Pakistan (2008-03-18) 18 March 2008 (age 18) PKR 1.96 crore Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2025
23 Abdul Subhan  Pakistan (2004-10-14) 14 October 2004 (age 21) PKR 62.5 lakh Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2026
49 Khurram Shahzad  Pakistan (1999-10-01) 1 October 1999 (age 26) PKR 2.70 crore Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium 2026
45 Nahid Rana  Bangladesh (2002-10-02) 2 October 2002 (age 23) PKR 60 lakh Right-handed Right-arm fast 2026
29 Kashif Ali  Pakistan N/A PKR 60 lakh N/A N/A 2026
27 Shahnawaz Dahani  Pakistan (1998-08-05) 5 August 1998 (age 28) PKR 60 lakh Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium 2026
74 Shoriful Islam  Bangladesh (2001-06-03) 3 June 2001 (age 25) PKR 60 lakh Left-handed Left-arm fast-medium 2026
3 Mohammad Basit  Pakistan (1999-12-01) 1 December 1999 (age 26) PKR 60 lakh Left-handed Left-arm medium-fast 2026
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Management and coaching staff

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position
Ottis Gibson Head coach
Mohammad Akram Director of cricket
Azhar Mahmood Assistant & bowling coach
Misbah-ul-Haq Batting coach
Azhar Ali Fielding coach
Michael Yardy Spin bowling & fielding coach
Zafar Iqbal Medical advisor
Mian Abbas Layaq Chief operating officer (COO)
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Captains

More information Name, From ...
Name From To Mat Won Lost Tie&W Tie&L NR Win%
Shahid Afridi 2016 2016 10 6 4 0 0 0 60.00
Darren Sammy 2017 2020 39 22 16 0 0 1 57.89
Mohammad Hafeez 2018 2018 2 1 1 0 0 0 50.00
Wahab Riaz 2020 2022 28 13 14 1 0 0 48.21
Shoaib Malik 2021 2022 2 1 1 0 0 0 50.00
Babar Azam 2023 present 32 15 17 0 0 0 46.87
Tom Kohler-Cadmore 2023 2023 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.00
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, Last updated: 26 March 2024

Result summary

More information Year, Pld ...

Overall result in PSL

YearPldWonLostTieNRPositionSummary
2016 862001/5Play-offs
2017 843011/5Champions
2018 1055003/6Runners-up
2019 1073001/6Runners-up
2020 1045014/6Play-offs
2021 1055003/6Runners-up
2022 1064003/6Play-offs
2023 1055004/6Play-offs
2024 1063012/6Play-offs
2025 1046005/6League Stage
Total 965241031 Title

Performance visuals

League position by season
1st
2nd
3rd
5th
'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
Win/loss ratio (2016–2025)
■ Wins 54.1%
■ Losses 42.7%
■ N/R 3.2%
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Head-to-head record

More information Opposition, Span ...
OppositionSpanMatWonLostTie&WTie&LNRSR (%)
Islamabad United2016–202526131300050.00
Karachi Kings2016–20252315800065.21
Lahore Qalandars2016–20252111910054.76
Multan Sultans2018–20251871100038.88
Quetta Gladiators2016–202526131200152.00
Rawalpindiz2026-2026110000100.00
PZ success vs opponents (2025)
13:13
15:8
11:9
7:11
13:12
IU KK LQ MS QG
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Key: ■ PZ Won | ■ IU | ■ KK | ■ LQ | ■ MS | ■ QG
Source: ESPNcricinfo, Last updated: 23 February 2026

Statistics

As of 22 February 2026

Most runs

More information Player, Years ...
Player Years Innings Runs High score
Kamran Akmal 2016–2022 74 1,972 107*
Babar Azam 2023–2025 32 1,379 115
Shoaib Malik 2020–2022 32 1,033 73
Mohammad Haris 2022–2025 36 905 87
Saim Ayub 2023–2025 33 860 88
Most runs (PZ 2026)
1972
1379
1033
905
860
Akmal Babar Malik Haris Ayub
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Most wickets

More information Player, Years ...
Player Years Innings Wickets Best bowling
Wahab Riaz 2016–2023 87 113 4/17
Hasan Ali 2016–2020 44 59 4/15
Salman Irshad 2022–2024 22 30 3/29
Umaid Asif 2018–2021 29 28 4/23
Luke Wood 2024–2025 19 23 3/28
Most wickets (PZ 2026)
113
59
30
28
23
Wahab Hasan Salman Umaid Wood
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See also

References

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