Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Peshawar Zalmi Final Live: Babar Wins Toss, Opts to Bowl

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first against Hyderabad Kingsmen in the high-stakes HBL PSL 11 final here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Under a clear Lahore sky and amidst a deafening roar from a capacity crowd, Babar opted to put the opposition in, citing the potential for dew to play a factor later in the evening. The decision follows a trend at the Gaddafi Stadium where chasing teams have often found more fluency as the ball skids onto the bat under lights. 

Babar expressed confidence in his bowling arsenal, led by the tournament's leading wicket-taker Sufyan Muqeem, to restrict the Kingsmen to a manageable total on a surface that appears to be a true batting paradise.

For the Hyderabad Kingsmen, the toss loss serves as the final hurdle in their debut season. Captain Marnus Labuschagne remained upbeat at the pitch side, stating he would have likely batted first regardless to put runs on the board in a pressure-cooker final. 

The Kingsmen, who made history by reaching the final after losing their first four matches, will rely heavily on the explosive Usman Khan and the middle-order stability of Labuschagne to set a formidable target for the Zalmi powerhouse.

The atmosphere in Lahore is electric as Peshawar Zalmi eyes its second PSL title, while the Kingsmen look to become the first expansion side to clinch the trophy in their maiden year. With the toss decided, the stage is set for a historic showdown between the league’s most consistent side and its most resilient newcomers.

Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI for PSL 11 Final 

Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Sufyan Moqim, Basit Ali, Nahid Rana 

Hyderabad Kingsmen Playing XI for PSL 11 Final 

Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed

Watch Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Peshawar Zalmi live on tapmad.