Babar Azam’s tactics cost Peshawar as Karachi stun Zalmi in a PSL 2025 thriller

In a dramatic turn of events at the National Stadium, Karachi Kings pulled off a thrilling 5-run win against Peshawar Zalmi in Match 18 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. Despite Luke Owen’s explosive form in the previous match, Zalmi’s decision to leave him out of the XI raised eyebrows, especially as Babar Azam‘s conservative captaincy once again came under the scanner.

Karachi survive late scare to claim a crucial win

Karachi Kings, led by David Warner, posted a competitive total of 172 on the back of vital contributions from Tim David and Shoaib Malik. Peshawar, in reply, were in control until the final overs when Babar Azam’s decision to bat slowly through the middle and bench their in-form striker Owen backfired under pressure.

Karachi’s calculated aggression sets the tone

Karachi Kings were steady in the powerplay but exploded in the final 10 overs. Tim David’s 47 off 25 balls and a quick 30 from Shoaib Malik helped them reach 172/6. Despite Wahab Riaz striking early, Peshawar couldn’t control the scoring in the death overs.

Peshawar’s chase derailed by conservative batting

Chasing 173, Peshawar lost early momentum as Babar Azam, once again, played the anchor role with a 39-ball 42. While Saim Ayub and Rovman Powell tried to accelerate, they lacked the firepower in the final overs. Questions were raised about the omission of Luke Owen, who had scored 73* in the previous match.

Babar’s captaincy under fire

With 30 needed off the last 2 overs and big hitters in the shed, Babar’s decision to send Mohammad Haris ahead of hard-hitters like Asif Ali proved costly. The defensive mindset, lack of intent, and unwillingness to trust form players like Owen led to Zalmi’s third loss of the season.

Points Table Impact

The win propels Karachi to third place on the PSL 2025 table with 3 wins from 5 matches, while Peshawar slide to fifth, facing increasing pressure to turn things around in the second half of the tournament.

Final Word

In T20 cricket, momentum matters. Karachi rode theirs, while Peshawar—under Babar’s defensive leadership—let it slip. With Owen sitting out and a timid approach from the top, questions are growing louder: can Peshawar afford to be this cautious in a tournament where every point counts?

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