KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam delivered a masterclass in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier on Tuesday, smashing a brilliant century against Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium to tie three major league records.
The right-handed batsman top-scored with a swashbuckling 103 off just 59 deliveries, laced with 12 fours and four sixes, propelling the table-topping Zalmi to a commanding total of 221 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Second Player to Score Two Centuries in a Season
Babar’s 57-ball ton was his second of the ongoing edition, making him only the second batter in PSL history to achieve two hundreds in a single season. He joins Usman Khan, who accomplished the feat for Multan Sultans in PSL 9.
This was Babar’s fourth career century in the PSL, drawing him level with Hyderabad Kingsmen’s Usman, who also holds four hundreds. Usman’s most recent came during the league stage of the current eight-team tournament against Multan Sultans.
Most Centuries in PSL
- Usman Khan – four in 35 innings
- Babar Azam – four in 110 innings
- Kamran Akmal – three in 74 innings
- Rilee Rossouw – three in 98 innings
- Fakhar Zaman – three in 105 innings
Ties Fakhar Zaman’s Season Run Record
Babar’s 103-run knock also allowed him to equal Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman’s long-standing record for the most runs in a single PSL edition. Fakhar had amassed 588 runs in 13 innings during the seventh edition, featuring one century and seven half-centuries.
Babar reached the same tally in just 10 innings this season, boasting an astounding average of 98.00 and a strike rate of 146.63, with two centuries and three fifties.
Most Runs in a PSL Season
- Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars) – 588 runs in 2022
- Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 588 runs* in 2026
- Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 569 runs in 2024
- Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) – 554 runs in 2021
- Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) – 550 runs in 2023
- Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) – 546 runs in 2022
- Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi) – 541 runs* in 2026
- Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 522 runs in 2023
- Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) – 500 runs in 2021
