![\"\u2018Teenon](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130745893,imgsize-69536,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/babar-azam.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPakistan\u2019s premier batter Babar Azam<\/a> delivered both on the field and at the podium as he led Peshawar Zalmi to the PSL 2026 title, making a powerful statement on his future across formats after a dominant campaign.Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, sealing their first title since 2017. While the trophy ended a long wait, it was Babar\u2019s emphatic stance on playing all three formats that grabbed equal attention.\u201cTeenon me khelunga, befikre rahiye. Teenon ki taraf hai, aap tension na le..jo aap puchna chah rahe hai [I\u2019ll play all three formats, don\u2019t worry. I\u2019m available for all of them, so you don\u2019t need to stress about it\u2026 I know what you\u2019re trying to ask],\u201d Babar said with a big smirk and smile after the victory, making his intentions crystal clear amid ongoing debates around his T20 relevance.Babar\u2019s bat does the talking<\/span>Babar\u2019s words were backed by a stellar season. He finished as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches at an astonishing average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 145.91, including two centuries and three fifties. The performance not only powered Zalmi\u2019s title charge but also silenced critics who had questioned his place in the shortest format.When pressed further on format priorities, Babar doubled down on his philosophy.\u201cDekhiye yeh player ne nahi decide karna..player ka kaam he khelna. Mere khyaal se har player ko, har cricket khelne chahiye. Yeh nahi ki sirf white ball par ya T20 par focus karna chahiye. Red ball se aapko bahut experience milta hai..aapme patienece aata hai..aapko lambe pariya khelne ka experience aata hai jab aap four-day khelte hai ya domestic cricket khelte hai. Isliye aapko teenon format khelna chahiye, aur who aapko har format me help karta hai [Look, it\u2019s not really for the player to decide \u2014 a player\u2019s job is to play. In my opinion, every cricketer should play all formats. It shouldn\u2019t be about focusing only on white-ball or just T20 cricket. Red-ball cricket gives you a lot of experience\u2026 it builds patience\u2026 it teaches you how to play long innings, especially when you play four-day or domestic cricket. That\u2019s why you should play all three formats \u2014 it helps you in every format].\u201dWATCH:<\/span>Hardie stars in final as Zalmi clinch title<\/span>While Babar led from the front throughout the tournament, it was Aaron Hardie<\/a> who starred in the final with a sensational all-round performance. The Australian picked up 4\/27 to bowl out Hyderabad for 129 before smashing an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls to guide Zalmi home in 15.2 overs.Despite an early collapse to 40\/4, Hardie stitched a match-winning 85-run stand with Abdul Samad (48) to turn the game on its head.\u201cIt\u2019s a very big achievement for me, for Peshawar Zalmi and all the fans,\u201d Babar said. \u201cThroughout the tournament we\u2019ve performed really well as a team\u2026 every player executed the plans they were given.\u201dHyderabad, led by Marnus Labuschagne<\/a>, showed promise but faltered after a strong powerplay, losing wickets in clusters and failing to post a competitive total.<\/div>\n