If Babar Azam wins the final of 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), then he can get the command of Pakistan cricket team again. Before the tournament, reporters asked Babar whether he would return as captain of the national team if they win the PSL 2026 title.
Azam is just one step away from winning the PSL 2026 title with Peshawar Zalmi. Tonight, they will face the first franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen. If they defeat Kingsman, Babar Azam & Co. will be the champions of the franchise.
Babar Azam is on the verge of winning the PSL 2026 title with Peshawar Zalmi
Peshawar Zalmi, captained by Babar Azam, has dominated the league during PSL 2026. They finished their group stage as table toppers. He has also performed strongly in the play-offs. By winning the qualifiers, they directly entered the finals after defeating Islamabad United.
For the past few years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been looking for a team that can help them recapture their glory days. The board has made several reshuffles in the team, coaching setup and leadership roles. But they have not yet found the best combination.
Why did Babar Azam leave the captaincy of Pakistan?
Babar’s first tenure as Pakistan captain ended in 2023 as the Pakistan national team under his leadership failed to impress the board officials. Pakistan failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup semi-finals, finishing 5th with 4 wins and 5 losses, missing out on New Zealand by a narrow margin in Net Run Rate (NRR).
While the margin for error may not have been much, Azam left the role due to immense pressure. However, a few months later, he was handed back the reins of the team and stepped down again. This time Pakistan was eliminated in the group stage of T20 World Cup 2024 itself.
The national team has performed brilliantly under the leadership of Salman Ali Aga, be it the Asia Cup 2025 or the 2026 T20 World Cup, but their campaign has stalled time and again. In the T20 World Cup 2026, the Aga-led side was eliminated from the title race even after defeating Sri Lanka in a do-or-die match in the Super 8 stage.
Should PCB appoint Babar as captain of the national team?
Should PCB make Babar Azam captain again? The 31-year-old player is also in great form with the bat. With a couple of centuries and three half-centuries, the Peshawar Zalmi opening batsman has scored 588 runs in 10 PSL 2026 matches at an average of 84.00 and an amazing strike rate of 146.26.
“Right now the captaincy issue is another thing; I am just focused on the Pakistan Super League final. But if such a situation arises in the future, I will always do what is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket,” Babar told reporters at a press conference ahead of the PSL 2026 final.
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