LAHORE: While Pesha­war Zalmi captain Babar Azam said he has no immediate plans for the next edition of the Pakistan Super League, as his team is focused on celebrating their title win, Hyderabad Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie said his side has learned several lessons and will return stronger.

Speaking at the post-final press conference at Gaddafi Stadium after defeating Kingsmen by five wickets, Babar, the leading run-scorer of the season, said, “Let us enjoy the victory. The next edition is a year away, and the boys deserve to celebrate.”

However, Gillespie remained determined: “We have learned many lessons from our first appearance, and we will come back stronger in the next edition.”

Babar praised the all-round efforts of Aaron Hardie and Abdul Samad, who added 85 runs for the fifth wicket, rescuing the team from a precarious 40 for 4 and guiding them to victory.

“Yes, we lost quick wickets, and the team needed a big partnership at that stage. Hardie and Samad played responsible knocks and did exactly what was required,” he said. “That partnership was the turning point in securing the five-wicket win.”

He added that the key to success was the players executing the plans set by the team management.

Babar also said he is ready to play all three formats of the game, leaving selection decisions to the selectors. Reflecting on his return to form, he credited his friends, family, and coaches for their support during a difficult phase. “I worked very hard to come out of a bad patch. Now I will try my best to maintain this form and serve Pakistan cricket,” he said.

He further revealed that advice from former great Zaheer Abbas has been valuable, and he appreciated the ground staff for preparing quality pitches throughout the tournament.

Babar noted he could not celebrate in Peshawar due to his departure for Bangladesh for a Test series but promised to visit later to thank fans. He also acknowledged the crowd’s support during the final.

Meanwhile, Gillespie praised his team’s effort: “Our players showed tremendous commitment despite playing together for the first time. Both batters and bowlers performed well under pressure. Now it’s our job to learn from mistakes and build a title-winning combination.” He admitted that early wickets prevented his side from posting a bigger total and acknowledged Zalmi as deserving champions.

Despite a difficult start—losing four matches—the Kingsmen reached the final, which Gillespie credited to the players’ resilience. He also commended captain Marnus Labuschagne for his leadership and maintaining discipline in the dressing room.

Gillespie added that although his team made early breakthroughs in the final, the partnership between Hardie and Samad proved decisive. “It was an exciting final, but Zalmi deserved to win,” he said.

He rejected criticism of his team’s batting, expressing satisfaction with the lineup, noting they scored over 200 runs on four occasions during the tournament.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2026