Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen meet at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 title decided under lights at the famous venue.
Teams Preview
Peshawar Zalmi, captained by Babar Azam, finished the league phase at the top of the standings after winning eight of their ten round-robin matches and losing only one game.
They eliminated Islamabad United by 70 runs in the Qualifier in Karachi, booking their place in the final without facing an elimination contest during the knockout rounds.
Hyderabad Kingsmen are playing their first-ever PSL season, making their appearance in the final a remarkable achievement for the newly added franchise this season.
Hyderabad Kingsmen began their debut PSL campaign with four consecutive defeats, raising serious doubts about their ability to compete at the highest domestic T20 level.
They recovered strongly, winning seven of their final eight league matches to finish fourth on the points table and secure a place in the knockout rounds of PSL 2026.
They defeated Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1 and then overcame Islamabad United in Eliminator 2, earning their berth in the final through two successive knockout victories.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Peshawar Zalmi vs Hyderabad Kingsmen |
| Stage | PSL 2026 Final |
| Date & Time | Sunday, 3 May 2026 — 07:30 PM (PKT) |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Head-to-Head | Played 1 — PES 1, HYK 0 |
| Previous Meeting | 8 April 2026 — PES won by 4 wkts (chased 146 off last ball) |
Pitch Report: Gaddafi Stadium
Gaddafi Stadium has produced high-scoring matches throughout PSL 2026, with batters finding the conditions extremely favourable across all five games played at this venue.
The average first-innings total in the last five matches at this ground stands at around 188 runs, which sets a clear benchmark for both teams ahead of Sunday’s final.
Captains winning the toss are expected to bowl first, and any target below 180 is likely to be chased down comfortably, given the batting-friendly nature of the pitch.
Key Performers to Watch
Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam has scored 588 runs in 10 innings at an average of 84 and a strike rate of 146.27, making him the top run-scorer in event heading into final.
Hyderabad Kingsmen will be aware that removing the skipper early will be central to any chance they have of restricting Peshawar Zalmi to a chaseable total on Sunday.
Peshawar Zalmi spinner Sufiyan Muqeem leads the wicket-takers chart with 21 scalps at an average of 14, maintaining a tight economy rate of 7.35 across his 10 appearances in PSL 2026.
Hunain Shah has been another vital threat with the ball for Peshawar Zalmi, delivering an outstanding spell in the previous match that put the opposition batting under severe pressure.
In Eliminator 2 against the three-time champions, disciplined fast bowling from Hunain Shah unsettled the opposition and saved six runs in the last over, conceding only three.
Wicketkeeper‑batter Usman Khan is also a major threat for the opposition, showcasing his class and hard‑hitting ability this season, including a match‑winning innings in Eliminator 2.
Weather Forecast
Weather forecasts in Lahore indicate temperatures starting at 34°C at 11:00, with rain chances peaking at 83 percent by 15:00 before gradually declining overnight.
Conditions ease after 16:00, with temperatures falling from 32°C to 23°C by 04:00, rain probabilities reducing to 13–36 percent, and winds steady between 6–11 km/h.
Evening temperatures around 26°C at 23:00 suggest manageable playing conditions, with cloud cover expected but no severe interruptions projected for the final.
Peshawar Zalmi Probable Playing XI
Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Haris (wk), Kusal Mendis, Michael Bracewell, Farhan Yousaf, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Khurram Shahzad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit.
Hyderabad Kingsmen Probable Playing XI
Marnus Labuschagne (C), Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Hassan Khan, Irfan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed.
