In their most recent Pakistan Super League 2023 encounter on Thursday, Peshawar Zalmi lost to Islamabad United despite Babar Azam scoring an undefeated fifty runs (February 23). With six wickets left, The United easily took down the 157-run mark to offset Babar’s unbeaten 75 off 58. He and Mohammad Haris put on an exhilarating 76-run partnership for the first wicket to score 76/0 in just 6.5 overs. At the National Bank Arena in Karachi, the team was batting first, but after Haris was dismissed, they were reduced to 156/8.
In a post-match conference, the Pakistani skipper seemed frustrated with his team’s big defeat, and then a journalist poured more misery with a surprise question about Babar’s former PSL franchise Karachi Kings. “Mai unka (Karachi Kings) coach thodi hun. Aap mujhse pooch rahe hain?. Abhi aaj ke match ki baat karte hain. [I am not their coach. You are asking me? Let’s talk about the game that happened today.]
Babar put on a fake smile while cutting the journalist off with a clever retort. Babar joined the Karachi Kings in 2017 and had six prosperous seasons there. During the championship-winning season in 2020, he was given the Player of the Season award and twice finished with the most runs scored in the tournament. He had a dismal conclusion with the franchise, though. He was appointed captain for the 2022 campaign, but the Kings ended last in the standings with just one victory out of 10 games played during the group stage.
He led his team in scoring and finished sixth in the tournament in runs scored, although he received a lot of flak for his lack of leadership qualities. Before to the 2023 season, Babar was exchanged by Karachi Kings for Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik with Peshawar Zalmi. Karachi Kings have lost three games in the competition and have only won one game thus far this season, despite a change of management.