Babar Azam had a worrying moment on the field during a Pakistan Super League 2026 clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars. The Zalmi skipper was struck on the helmet by a sharp bouncer from Ubaid Shah at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on April 11, leaving fans briefly concerned.
Earlier in the match, Lahore opted to bowl first after winning the toss. The defending champions also brought back Fakhar Zaman into the lineup following his two-match suspension. Peshawar, on the other hand, came into the game unbeaten in the tournament.
Ubaid Shah’s Bouncer Leaves Babar Azam Shaken
The incident unfolded right at the start of the sixth over. Ubaid delivered a short ball at 125.7 km/h, and Babar stepped forward attempting an attacking shot.
He failed to connect, and the ball struck his shoulder before rising to hit his neck area and the lower part of his helmet grill. Medical staff rushed in immediately to check on him. After going through a concussion test, Babar was deemed fit and continued his innings.
That was scary 😰
I hope Babar Azam is safe 😳pic.twitter.com/c2p71YLOAa— Sheikh Abdullah 🇵🇰 (@Sheiikhabdulah) April 11, 2026
Key Partnership Brings Stability
Mohammad Haris fell early yet again, putting pressure on the batting side. However, Babar and Kusal Mendis steadied things with a composed partnership.
The pitch seemed to assist the bowlers, making run-scoring slightly tricky. Mendis took on the attacking role, while Babar focused on building the innings with careful shot selection.
The duo added 109 runs for the second wicket, giving their team a solid platform. Babar scored 43 before being dismissed by Usama Mir, whose well-disguised googly forced a mistimed shot. Abdullah Shafique completed the catch at long-on.
This partnership now ranks among Zalmi’s notable stands against Lahore in PSL history. The top record remains the 136-run partnership between Babar and Saim Ayub in 2024, followed by 116 runs scored by Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik in 2020.
Babar Azam Reflects on Playing Conditions
After the game, Babar spoke about how the team prepared for a daytime match and how conditions felt slightly different.
“(Preparation for a day game) The preparation stays the same. The break that we got earlier, we practiced a lot under the sun,” Babar stated.
The conditions are slightly different I feel, though the pitch is the same that we played on a couple of nights ago. Hopefully we play well.”
He also pointed out how important spin bowling can be in such conditions and appreciated the balance within the squad.
“(On their strong spin attack) The spinners always dominate here. Iftikhar’s experience with the ball helps. We are blessed with a combination that is helping us out a lot in these conditions.”
Current Standings in PSL 2026
Peshawar Zalmi continue to enjoy a strong campaign and currently sit second on the points table, with three wins from four matches and one no-result. Meanwhile, Lahore Qalandars are placed sixth, having managed two wins in their four games so far.
