Babar Azam Reflects on Zalmi’s Defeat to Gladiators

Following their 64-run flogging at the hands of arch-rivals Quetta Gladiators in the 17th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam admitted his team’s difficulties in both bowling and batting departments here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

First sent into bat, the Gladiators scored a remarkable total of 178/7 in their allocated 20 overs thanks to a concerted effort among their batsmen.

Leading the way for them was Mark Chapman, who with three boundaries top-scored with 33 off 26 deliveries. Skipper Saud Shakeel and Kusal Mendis, 32 each, sufficiently helped him; opening batter Finn Allen contributed vital runs at the top with a blistering 31 off just 16 deliveries.

Alzarri Joseph grabbed three wickets for Zalmi, and Saim Ayub snagged two. Targeting a 178-run mark, Zalmi’s batting performance came out as meagre 114 in 15.2 overs.

With a 34-ball 39 loaded with four fours and two sixes, middle-order hitter Hussain Talat fought a lone struggle for the 2017 champions. Apart from him, Mitchell Owen (15), Mohammad Haris (17), and skipper Babar Azam (12) compiled double digits.

Thinking back on the brutal defeat. Zalmi skipper Babar admitted they failed to carry out their ideas and were not up to standards in both divisions. He also mentioned that the team management will meet and examine the errors to ensure they are corrected going ahead in the six-team event.

“I believe our bowling and batting fell short of expectations,” Babar Azam stated.

“We did not carry out our intentions as we ought to have. We will sit down, examine what went wrong, and make sure we avoid repeating the same errors going ahead.”

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