LAHORE: Finally, the big day has come as Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi lock horns with an inspiring Hyderabad Kingsmen side led by Marnus Labuschagne in the summit clash of the HBL Pakistan Super League here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Luckily, enthusiastic fans who were allowed entry at the stadiums in this PSL edition only at the eleventh hour before the playoffs, will keep the atmosphere energised when the rival captains come out for the toss.

Interestingly, both the finalists have come to the big stage through contrasting routes. While Zalmi, who have won one PSL title back in 2017, remained significantly consistent in this season by winning eight of their 10 initial-stage matches and the qualifier, debutants Kingsmen had a nightmarish start to the campaign losing five games on the trot before getting back on track to win the next five fixtures and qualify for the playoffs. The rejuvenated Kingsmen side then brushed aside Multan Sultans in Eliminator-1 before edging Islam­abad United in Eliminator-2 to reach the decider.

Babar in his pre-match media conference on Saturday indicated that his side would try to keep the winning formula intact.

“So far our journey in this edition has been quite nice. Our strategy is paying off so we will try to apply it in the final too,” Babar said during the media conference on Saturday after unveiling the PSL trophy alongside Labuschagne at the Gaddafi Stadium.

“Like every other match, the final is also a game of pressure. Tomorrow’s game has its own pressure. As captain everyone dreams of his team lifting the trophy so I am quite excited.

“Momentum is always important for a team to win and it is good that our momentum has been there from the very beginning,” Babar, the leading scorer of this year’s PSL with 588 runs, added.

“Every team makes and execute plans accordingly. [However], sometimes things suddenly change but my team is experienced, one having the ability to control such situations.”

Zalmi had two in-form bowlers from Bangladesh — Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam — but when they left for national duty, the team management arranged the alternate combination and that also clicked, Babar underlined.

According to Babar, there was no room for his team to show complacency against Kingsmen.

Commenting on his own batting show in this PSL season, the right-handed batter with two centuries under his belt in this edition said that he had tried some old techniques which came off.

When asked if batting as opener proved crucial in bringing his form back, the 31-year-old said that almost all his impressive performances came when he opened.

“It is a different scenario question [on which] I will talk about later,” Babar said but went on to add that sometimes a player as per the team’s requirement had to bat at different positions.

“The coach or [the] team management have to plan where a player can be more suitable.

“[Studying] in which country we are going to play and what their playing conditions are is their job and it is better if you put forward this question to them; they will give a better reply,” Babar said.

Speaking at his presser, Labuschagne said that remaining firm with the procedure will be important for Kingsmen in the high-pressure decider.

“For us it is important to control the situation and make sure we stick to our process of plans and rest will take care of itself. It is going to be a great occasion, a great moment,” the skipper told reporters.

Labuschange acknowledged that Zal­mi proved themselves tough opponents.

“We obviously know they have been an in-form side for the whole tournam­ent. We have played one game against them and it was really a tight game,” he said.

“You know some upsets have certainly lit up this tournament and it has certainly been exciting [both] as a player and as a viewer. And tomorrow is just another game and we have just got to make sure that we stick to the process,” he reiterated.

Asked what was the secret behind their turnaround, Labuschagne termed self-belief and confidence were the crucial factors.

“I think [self] belief and confidence are two really big factors in any team. And when you create that in a team you can earn achievements. I think that’s what really instills in the team. And I think that’s what’s really important.”

About the achievement in the first ever appearance in the PSL, he said: “Yes, it [reaching the final] is certainly an amazing opportunity. You know my first experience of PSL and you know leading Hyderabad Kingsman has been really exciting.

“I have enjoyed every moment. There have certainly been ups and downs, but I think that is what makes it so exciting.”

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026