Peshawar Zalmi PSL 2025 Squad Analysis: Can Babar Azam's Men Go All The Way This Time?

Peshawar Zalmi team in action [Source: @Talhaofficial01/X]

To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, the tenth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is all set to get underway on the eleventh of this month. Six teams will battle it out across 34 matches for the coveted title. 

Regarding Peshawar Zalmi, the Babar Azam-led side finished as the third-best team last season, qualifying for the second eliminator. However, as the new season is all set to begin, let's analyse and find out how far they can go this time around. 

Peshawar Zalmi PSL 2025 Squad

Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, George Linde, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Hussain Talat, Nahid Rana, Arif Yaqoob, Najeebullah, Max Bryant, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufyan Muqeem, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, Ahmed Daniyal, Alzarri Joseph, Mitchell Owen, Luke Wood

Peshawar Zalmi Strengths

Solid Opening Pair

(Babar and Ayub's stats in PSL 2024)

• Peshawar Zalmi have a robust opening pair comprising impactful players like Babar Azam and Saim Ayub. They recently secured the services of BBL sensation Mitchell Owen, who can play breathtaking knocks as a top-order batter. 
• While Saim brings dynamism to the table, Babar Azam adds solidity to the lineup with his experience and ability to anchor the innings. 
• So, Peshawar Zalmi's opening pair is definitely one of their biggest strengths as they will heavily rely on these two players to succeed with the bat. 

Variety and depth in pace and spin attack

• Peshawar Zalmi's overall bowling attack looks formidable. They have an excellent left-arm swing bowler in Luke Wood, while Mohammad Ali has been one of the most reliable seamers in the league of late. 
• Nahid Rana and Alzarri Joseph's hostile hit-the-deck fast bowling empowers them with a ruthless and all-round pace attack. Meanwhile, the likes of Sufyan Muqeem, George Linde, Arif Yaqoob and Mehran Mumtaz ensure they have a solid spin core with an ample number of options to choose from. 

---

ALSO READ

Lahore Qalandars PSL 2025 Squad Analysis: Can Shaheen Afridi's Troops Capture Their 3rd Title?

---

Peshawar Zalmi Weaknesses

Vulnerable middle order

• Peshawar Zalmi's middle order looks slightly vulnerable, as they can't rely on Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Abdul Samad and Hussain Talat to bail them out of trouble if they suffer a batting collapse. 
• So, it's important from Zalmi's perspective that Babar Azam should hold their lineup like glue, with the stroke players batting around him.

Lack of reliable all-rounders

• Apart from George Linde, Peshawar Zalmi don't have a reliable all-rounder in their PSL 2025 squad. So, they will pretty much depend on specialists to succeed in the tournament. 
• Multidimensional players are valuable assets for every team in the shortest format. As the Zalmi don't have so many all-rounders, they might have to compromise with the quality of their lineup. 

Opportunity For Peshawar Zalmi

Can Babar Azam lead Zalmi to title after 8 years?

• Stylish Pakistan batter Babar Azam recently lost his place from the T20I side after failing to live up to the expectations. However, with Pakistan receiving a heavy drubbing from New Zealand, the PCB might get Babar back if he regains his form in the PSL this season. 
• So, this tournament gives Babar a golden opportunity to prove his mettle, not only as a batter but also as the captain of Peshawar Zalmi. The franchise hasn't won the tournament since 2017, and it won't be surprising if Babar ends their title drought and gets Pakistan's T20I captaincy back before the 2026 T20 World Cup. 

Threats For Peshawar Zalmi

Will Saim Ayub be the same player after injury?

• Swashbuckling batter Saim Ayub has just recovered from an ankle injury which sidelined him from the ICC Champions Trophy. 
• Generally, it's difficult for any player to get back into the groove straightaway after an injury setback. So, it will be interesting to see how Saim Ayub performs in the PSL this season. 

Mohammad Haris and Kohler-Cadmore's inconsistency

(Stats of Haris and Kohler-Cadmore in PSL 2024)

• Mohammad Haris and Tom Kohler-Cadmore can be as destructive as anyone, but it's their inconsistency that let Peshawar Zalmi down last season. 
• As evidenced by the above stats, Haris and Kohler-Cadmore failed miserably with the bat last season. More importantly, these two players bat at 3 and 4, the two most critical batting positions in T20 cricket. 
• Therefore, these two players need to take more responsibility and set the foundation for a fitting finish for Abdul Samad, George Linde and Hussain Talat. 

Peshawar Zalmi's Probable Starting XI For PSL 2025

Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Haris, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, George Linde, Luke Wood, Nahid Rana, Sufyan Muqeem, Mohammad Ali

Peshawar Zalmi Team Rating

Peshawar Zalmi's  Expected finish

Opening batters and bowling unit need to do the heavy-lifting for Peshawar Zalmi to qualify for the PSL 2025 playoffs. After analysing their overall squad, we reckon they might just sneak into the knockouts as the third or fourth-best side. 

---

ALSO READ

Islamabad United PSL 2025 Squad Analysis: Can Shadab Khan And Co Defend Their Title?

---