Babar Azam blames bowlers after Peshawar Zalmi crash out of PSL 9

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Islamabad United qualified for the final of the PSL 9 on the back of a record seventh-wicket partnership between Imad Wasim and Haider Ali, as they beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets on Saturday at National Bank Stadium, Karachi in Eliminator Two.

Zalmi failed to defend their total of 185-5 as United batters overcame the early hiccup of being 50-4, and secured the berth in the HBL PSL 9 final, completing the target with an over to spare.

Babar Azam, the captain of Peshawar Zalmi, expressed disappointment following his team's defeat and attributed their loss to a subpar bowling performance in the latter half of United's innings.

"I think we were in a good position after 10 overs. But our bowling after that was very bad. We weren't up to the mark and we thought we had won the match," he said.

"We were ahead but after that, we bowled ordinarily," he added.

Azam Khan and Imad Wasim got together to put up a 41-run fifth-wicket partnership injecting stability to United’s innings. Luke Wood destroyed Azam’s (22, 17b, 1x4, 1x6) stumps in the 11th over to leave United reeling with 95 required in nine overs.

Haider Ali joined Imad in the middle and the duo took it upon themselves to stage the rescue act. Haider got going with two boundaries against Aamir in the 13th over, while he bludgeoned Arif Yaqoob for a six in 15th over.

Aamir’s 18th over, yielding 23, became the nail in the coffin for Zalmi as Imad hit a first-ball four followed by Haider hitting two towering sixes and a four. Haider smashed Wood for his fifth six in the 19th over while Imad hit the winning runs. Imad (59 not out, 40b, 9x4s) and Haider (52 not out, 29b, 2x4s, 5x6s) added an unbeaten 98 for the seventh wicket, the highest in HBL PSL history, to take their side to the final.

Babar credited Imad and Haider for their exceptional performance, acknowledging their partnership. He praised the impressive display by the opposing batsmen.

"Credit to Imad and Haider for how they played," Babar added.