Babar Azam smashed a scintillating 52-ball century for Peshawar Zalmi in their PSL 2026 match against Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium, Karachi on Sunday, April 19. It was his third PSL hundred, bringing him level with Rilee Rossouw, Usman Khan and Kamran Akmal for the most centuries in the tournament’s history.
It was also Babar’s fastest PSL century, but what really stood out was the sheer control he displayed – he bowled just one dot ball in the entire innings. On the final delivery of the 14th over, he ducked under a bouncer from Alzarri Joseph; in addition, he scored off every single ball to send Zalmi to an impressive 255 for three.
Remarkably, no batsman in T20 history has faced 50 or more deliveries in an innings and registered one or fewer dot balls, making Babar’s knock all the more extraordinary. In fact, he reached his fifty off 31 balls without facing a single dot. Babar also scored a T20 century after 67 innings.
Babar Azam in HBL PSL 2026:
7 shifts
401 runs
average 100.25
144 hit rate
– They doubted him and forced him to change the order because of cheaters like Saim and Agha who average under 21 in this format.Take this Aqib Javed and Mike Hesson. pic.twitter.com/vnZ3rsCczq—Abdullah. (@Abdullahh_56) April 19, 2026
Babar often faced criticism for his measured approach in T20 cricket, especially on batting-friendly surfaces. His inability to consistently accelerate and questions surrounding his strike often come under scrutiny. There was also the impression that he had not fully adapted his game to suit the evolving demands of the format.
He endured a difficult campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20, with Pakistan failing to qualify for the semi-finals. But on Sunday, Babar turned the narrative around – looking positive from the start and playing with a freedom that underlined his intent.
HOW BABAR AZAM DESTROYED QUETTA
He looked determined to keep the scoreboard moving from the start, rarely allowing the bowlers to settle. His innings was built around exceptional stroke rotation, sharp placement and relentless running between the wickets, which ensured almost no pressure dot balls.
What stood out was how Babar combined a classic stroke play with a modern T20 intent. He burst through gaps, broke through covers, worked the square corners of the wicket and turned ones into twos with soft hands.
As the shift progressed, he shifted smoothly. Against the spinner, he used his feet with confidence, pulling the ropes with sweeps and straight punches, while against pace he was equally confident, throwing everything in his arc with authority.
The acceleration in the second half was particularly noticeable when he faced the pair of Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed. Babar stitched a 135-run stand for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis, laying the perfect platform for Zalmi. He also equaled Virat Kohli’s record for most partnerships in T20s (47), underscoring the consistency of his brilliance.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
19 Apr 2026 22:50 IST
