Babar Azam joins Peshawar Zalmi for Pakistan Super League 2023

Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023: Babar Azam is set to play for the Peshawar Zalmi in the upcoming edition of the T20 tournament after playing six seasons for the Karachi Kings.

Babar joins Peshawar Zalmi for Pakistan Super League 2023. Courtesy: AP

By India Today Web Desk: Babar Azam is set to ply his trade for the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2023 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). After spending a solitary season with Islamabad United, the 28-year-old joined Karachi Kings back in 2017 and was a stalwart for them for as many as six seasons.

He was also named as the Kings’ skipper back in 2021, replacing Imad Wasim, but he failed as his team failed to make their way through to the playoffs. Babar is currently the only batter with over 2000 runs in the history of the PSL, having scored 2413 runs from 68 matches at an average of 42.33 with 23 half-centuries.

Javed Afridi, the owner of the Zalmi, confirmed that the Lahore-born Babar would be plying his trade for the 2017 champions. If reports are to be believed, the Kings have traded Babar for Shoaib Malik, who has been a crucial member of the Zalmi over the last few seasons.

Kings’ owner Salman Iqbal thanked the Lahore-born Babar for contributing heavily with the bat for the team over the years.

“I am so glad that you were part of the Karachi Kings family for six seasons. Thank you and all the very best Babar Azam. Bus ab Karachi ke against cover drives na maarna,” the owner was quoted as saying.

Babar is currently in Australia where he is captaining Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022. Although Babar hasn’t been in the best of form, the Men in Green are already through to the final where they will face Jos Buttler’s England on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After a string of low scores, Babar scored a half-century in a 105-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan during the semi-final against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.