Babar Azam equals all-time PSL record, joins Pakistan teammate with 588-run season

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is in the business end of the tournament. As the Qualifier 1 between the Peshawar Zalmi and the Islamabad United has been going on. During the match, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam smashed a century and created a record, and silenced all his critics, which gave him tough times in the last few months.

Babar Azam became the first batter to score 500 runs in a single edition for the fourth time in the history of the PSL. Babar began the match with 485 runs in 10 innings and easily passed the 500-run mark in Zalmi's third over by blasting United's Richard Gleeson for a boundary.

Babar Azam creates a new record

Babar Azam has now scored 500 runs in a single PSL season four times, surpassing Rawalpindi opponent Mohammad Rizwan, who has done so three times for the Multan Sultans. Babar first scored 500 or more runs in a single PSL season in 2021 for Karachi Kings, and he has since done it three times for Zalmi.

The former Pakistan captain anchored the innings with a stunning century of 103 off 59 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes. He also maintained a strike rate of 174.58. This was a captain's knock under pressure in a knockout game, with the innings paced well from beginning to end. Babar surpassed his previous record of 569 runs in a single season.

Congratulations to our skipper- Mohammad Haris

The record for the most runs in a single season belongs to Babar Azam, who has now scored 588 runs in the 2026 edition for the Zalmi, surpassing the previous record of Fakhar Zaman, who had the same runs, but with a game in hand. Babar has the chance to surpass his Pakistan teammate, who did it back in the 2022 season.

After the first innings, Zalmi opener Mohammad Haris said, "The surface is a little bit difficult, but I'm staying true to my game. My role at the top is to provide a good start and get runs on the board."

"Congratulations to our skipper Babar Azam on that magnificent hundred. We talked about matchups while we were out there, and I feel this is a good score for us to defend to get into the finals."

Peshwar Zalmi inching close to the final

Coming to the match, Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan won the toss and elected to field first. While batting, Babar and Haris stitched a partnership of 72 runs for the first wicket. Then 84 runs with Kusal Mendis. These two big partnerships helped Zalmi to put up the 200+ total for the fourth time this season, and they scored 221/7.

While chasing, IU are losing wickets at regular intervals, and with seven overs in hand, they are at the score of 109/5 after 12.2 overs as they are getting away from the run chase, with Babar’s side keeping one foot in the final of the PSL 2026.

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