KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam wrote his name into the Pakistan Super League record books on Saturday, becoming the first batter in PSL history to surpass 4,000 career runs during his team’s match against Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium.
The right-handed maestro played a measured knock of 43 runs off 40 deliveries, which included three boundaries and a six. He reached the historic milestone in his 105th PSL appearance, underscoring his remarkable consistency with a career strike rate of 127.92. His overall PSL tally now features 37 half-centuries and two centuries.
He becomes the first batter to this milestone in HBL PSL history 👌#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvLQ pic.twitter.com/2PAMpmZLqY
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 11, 2026
In stark contrast, Lahore Qalandars’ aggressive opener Fakhar Zaman remains a distant second on the all-time run-scorers list with 3,018 runs from 99 matches at a strike rate of 141.82, including 24 fifties and two centuries.
PSL Leading Run-Scorers List
- Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi)— 4,004*
- Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars)— 3,018
- Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans)— 2,853
- Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators)— 2,366
- Shoaib Malik (Quetta Gladiators)— 2,350
How the match unfolded
Earlier, batting first, Zalmi enjoyed a confident start as opener Mohammad Haris and Babar set an aggressive tone. Haris provided early fireworks before Shaheen Afridi struck in his second over, dismissing him for 18 off 10 balls.
Babar then joined forces with Kusal Mendis to rebuild the innings. The duo effortlessly pushed Zalmi past 50 runs and steadily seized control. Mendis played fluently to register another PSL 11 half-century, while Babar anchored with authority as their partnership soared past 100 runs.
Babar shifting gears! 🚀🔥
The skipper is turning up the heat at the National Bank Stadium!#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvLQ pic.twitter.com/GbFBNGWXTr
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 11, 2026
The 109-run stand was eventually broken when Usama Mir removed Babar for 43 off 40 deliveries, leaving Zalmi at 127-2 in 15.2 overs.
Michael Bracewell later contributed valuable late runs to push the total beyond 150, but Shaheen Afridi struck again to dismiss Mendis for a superb 74 off 48 balls, an innings featuring five fours and four sixes.
Ubaid Shah dented Zalmi’s progress by removing Abdul Samad for two, before Mustafizur Rahman accounted for Bracewell, who made a brisk 21 off 10 deliveries. Shaheen returned in the final over to claim his third wicket, removing Farhan Yousaf for two.
Zalmi’s innings closed with Iftikhar Ahmed unbeaten on seven and Sufiyan Muqeem not out on one, as they finished on 173-7 after 20 overs.
