LAHORE: The HBL Pakistan Super League 2026 concluded its league stage after 40 matches, delivering a season filled with batting fireworks, bowling brilliance, and a tense mid-table battle that kept everyone engaged until the final round.
Peshawar Zalmi emerged as the standout team, finishing top of the table with 17 points from 10 matches. Their campaign was marked by consistency, winning eight games and losing only once, with one match abandoned. A net run rate of +2.324 highlighted their dominance, powered by the prolific batting of Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam, alongside the wicket-taking form of Sufiyan Muqeem.
Behind Zalmi, Islamabad United secured second place with 13 points, while Multan Sultans finished third on 12 points. The race for the fourth playoff spot was the most dramatic, with Hyderabad Kingsmen, Lahore Qalandars, and Karachi Kings all locked on 10 points. Hyderabad edged ahead on net run rate, clinching the final playoff berth.
At the bottom, Quetta Gladiators managed only three wins, while newcomers Rawalpindiz struggled throughout, registering just one victory in their debut season. The season was defined by aggressive batting of Kusal Mendis (Zalmi) topped the charts with 500 runs, including a century and four fifties, at a strike rate of 170.64.
Babar Azam (Zalmi) followed with 485 runs, averaging a remarkable 80.83. Fakhar Zaman (Qalandars) thrilled fans with 401 runs, striking at 151.89 and notching four fifties.
Steve Smith (Sultans) and Sahibzada Farhan (Sultans) also crossed the 350-run mark, both scoring centuries and maintaining strike rates above 160. Boundary statistics reflected the attacking mindset: Babar and Fakhar led with 48 fours each, while Farhan topped the six-hitting charts with 23 maximums, closely followed by
Mendis (22).
Despite the batting-heavy season, bowlers made their mark and it was Sufiyan Muqeem (Zalmi) who led the wicket tally with 19 scalps, averaging just 14.15. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Qalandars) claimed 16 wickets, including a best of 4/18, underlining his impact with the new ball. Hasan Ali (Kings) picked up 15 wickets, though at a higher economy rate. Shadab Khan (United) impressed with 14 wickets at an economy of 6.46, showcasing control in the middle overs. Mohammad Ali (Kingsmen) chipped in with 13 wickets, keeping his side competitive.
Season Themes
Power Hitting: A total of 543 sixes and 1186 fours were struck, underlining the batting-heavy nature of
PSL 11.
Upsets and Close Finishes: Several matches saw underdogs prevail, keeping the playoff race alive until the final round.
Consistency at the Top: Zalmi’s dominance was built on the prolific form of Mendis and Babar, supported by Muqeem’s breakthroughs. Mid-Table Drama: Lahore, Karachi, and Hyderabad all finished level on points, with net run rate proving decisive.
