Babar Azam led Peshawar Zalmi to their second PSL title with a comfortable five-wicket win over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final. Chasing a modest 129-run target, Zalmi made light work of the total, thanks to a composed unbeaten 56 from Aaron Hardie. He stitched together a match-winning 85-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Abdul Samad, who chipped in with a fluent 48 off 34 balls, as Zalmi crossed the finish line with 28 balls to spare.
Earlier, Hardie starred with the ball as well, picking up four crucial wickets. He was well supported by Nahid Rana (2/22), Mohammad Basit (1/22), and Sufyan Moqim (1/23), as Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 129 despite a fighting fifty from Saim Ayub.
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Babar Azam’s Trophy Celebration Goes Viral
While the victory ended Peshawar Zalmi’s nine-year wait for a PSL title, it was Babar Azam’s celebration that grabbed attention online. In a viral clip, the Zalmi skipper was seen walking onto the podium with a calm, composed stride before lifting the trophy amid loud cheers from teammates.
However, fans were quick to notice similarities between Babar’s walk and Rohit Sharma’s iconic trophy moment from the T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit’s slow, confident walk had gone viral globally and was reportedly inspired by WWE legend Ric Flair’s famous strut.
Social media users didn’t hold back, flooding X (formerly Twitter) with reactions. Many accused Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed of copying the moment, with memes and sarcastic comparisons calling it a “cheap copy” of a “masterpiece.”
Despite the trolling, Babar had a stellar tournament, finishing as one of the top performers with 588 runs, including two centuries and three fifties at an average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 145.90.
