The PSL conducted a replacement draft for the six teams in order to complete their squads ahead of the resumption of the 2021 tournament, which had been suspended after 14 matches due to spikes in the number of Covid-19 infections in that country.
In the draft, Russell, who is currently playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, was selected by the Quetta Gladiators, who have lost Tom Banton and Dale Steyn.
Peshawar Zalmi picked up Allen, Rovman Powell and Fidel Edwards as replacements for Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Livingston, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Saquib Mahmood.
Meanwhile, the Multan Sultans pick Obed McCoy along with George Linde, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mahmudullah as replacements for Carlos Brathwaite, Adam Lyth, James Vince and Chris Lynn.
The remainder of the tournament will be played in June, with all matches in Karachi, in a bio-security bubble being put in place by a UK-based company. The teams will assemble by May 23 to begin their mandatory seven-day quarantine, and action will resume on June 2, with the final on June 20.
A host of leagues and competitions, across multiple sports and continents, have been cancelled or postponed this week in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IPL was due to begin on March 29, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now pushed that start date back by two and a half weeks.
A statement from Indian cricket's governing body read: "The BCCI has decided to suspend IPL 2020 until 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
"The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience.
"The BCCI will work closely with the government of India along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all other relevant central and state government departments in this regard."
While the IPL will be delayed, the Pakistan Super League is set to continue as scheduled, for the time being at least. However, a host of players - predominantly from England - have confirmed they will take no further part in the competition.
Following a conference call with team owners, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement on Friday, which read: "The HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 will proceed as planned, including tonight’s Multan Sultans versus Peshawar Zalmi match, which will commence at the National Stadium at 8pm.
"The match will be played behind closed doors and only event accredited personnel will be allowed to enter the venue. All players and players support personnel have been given the option to withdraw from the HBL PSL 2020 should they wish to do so."
Alex Hales, Rilee Rossouw, James Vince, Tom Banton, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, Lewis Gregory, Liam Livingstone, Jason Roy and Tymal Mills were confirmed as the players to have already pulled out, along with Peshawar coach James Foster.
The PCB's statement added: "No player has to date tested positive for coronavirus. The PCB will continue to assess and monitor the situation and make decisions as appropriate in consultation with the team owners.
"No discussion has taken place as yet with regards to the upcoming Pakistan Cup one-day tournament and home international matches against Bangladesh."
PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said: "As stated previously, we will continue to assess and review the situation and will not hesitate to make what we believe are the right decisions for everyone involved.
"Ensuring that the players feel comfortable remains paramount to the PCB. As of now, it is important to emphasise and clarify that the main concern of many of the 10 players and a coach, who have chosen to return home, revolves around avoiding a potential situation where they might become stranded either due to flight cancellations or border closures in their own countries."
The decision was announced just hours before the first match was scheduled to take place in Lahore.
A short statement issued via the competition Twitter account confirmed the matches were "postponed, to be rescheduled", adding: "More details to follow in due course."
Multan Sultans were due to meet Peshawar Zalmi in the first semi-final, before the second match between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars.
The final was scheduled for Thursday.
Pakistan has 189 confirmed cases of coronavirus and one of those people has died.
The Gladiators are currently at the bottom of the six-team table on two points from the five games they played before the tournament was suspended after just 15 games in March following a rash of Covid-19 infections within the tournament bubble.
“Obviously, my target is to do the best I can to contribute to the team in whatever way I can, whether it is with the bat or with the ball or in the field," said Russell during an interview with Geo News.
"I'm actually excited to be taking part in this tournament. I should contribute in whatever way. I won't get that sweet joy of lifting the cup with them, but I will know why they should bid towards that. And when you get a winning momentum, it is just confidence after confidence and from game to game, you feel untouchable as a team so once you're doing well, you will know what to do to win again."
Notwithstanding his intention to help the team, Russell admitted he was struggling to live in yet another bubble during the 18-month-old pandemic.
“I think it's taking a toll on myself. I can't talk for any other player, of any other coaches or anyone that go through this whole quarantine stuff. But it's definitely taken a toll on me mentally because from bubble to bubble, in a room locked in, you can’t go out for a walk, you can’t go certain places, you can't socialize, it's different," he said.
"But at the end of the day, I'm not being ungrateful, I'm grateful that we're still playing, we're still doing our job. So it's tough for us. But even though we prepared for it, it still takes a toll.”
Russell was previously in a bubble while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League that was suspended in early May following a rise in the numbers of players and support staff infected by the virus inside the bio-secure bubble.
The citation read in part: “At a time when most of the foreign players backed off from playing cricket in Pakistan for security reasons, it was Mr Daren Sammy, the captain of Peshawar Zalmi, who against all odds helped the cause of restoration of international cricket in Pakistan and highlighted its soft image. Mr Daren Sammy stood out this whole time and has been a true ambassador and flag bearer of Pakistan ever since.”
He expressed his appreciation and gratitude in a post on Instagram on Sunday.
“Cricket took me all over the world, enabling me to see and play in some amazing places. Pakistan is definitely one of these places. A place that always makes me feel at home. It is such an honour to have received this prestigious award from the Government and the people of Pakistan. Thank you,” said Sammy, who played for Peshawar Zalmi in the inaugural Pakistan Super League in 2016 and now serves as the franchise’s head coach.
In the 2017 PSL draft, he was retained by Peshawar Zalmi. During the draft, Captain Shahid Afridi announced Sammy as the new captain of Peshawar Zalmi. With Sammy as it’s captain, the team won the second edition of the PSL.
Sammy, who led the West Indies to two T20 World titles (2012 and 2016), was receiving his second civil honour from Pakistan in as many years. In March 2020, he received the highest civilian medal of Pakistan, Nishan-e-Pakistan, for his part in helping bring international cricket back to Pakistan. He was also awarded honorary Pakistani citizenship by the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi.
Each of the six teams was required to select 16 players in the draft; three from the platinum, diamond and gold categories, five silver, and two each from the emerging and supplementary categories.
Gayle, arguably the best T20 batsman of all time, was a platinum selection for the Quetta Gladiators, while Rutherford was a diamond selection for Peshawar Zalmi.
Chadwick Walton was selected from the gold category by the Karachi Kings. Multan Sultans selected Brathwaite as a supplementary player.
Most notably, Dwayne Bravo and Evin Lewis, players who had reportedly registered for the draft went undrafted.
Ninety players from the West Indies registered for the draft, the most from any country or territory. Eighty players from England registered for the draft while there were 40 from Sri Lanka and an estimated 30 each from South Africa and Afghanistan.
The Qalandars made 198-6 off their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Gladiators.
Hope led the way with a 32-ball 47 including five fours and a six. Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza provided good support with a rapid 16-ball 32 and Mirza Baig was also in a destructive mood with 31 off just 15 balls.
Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad took 2-36 from his four overs. West Indian Odean Smith also took a pair of wickets in his four overs and went for 41 runs.
The Gladiators reply never really got off the ground with only Jason Roy providing some tense moments for the Qalandars with a brisk 48 off 30 balls including five sixes.
Pakistani speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi was chief destroyer for the Qalandars with 3-22 from his four overs while South African all-rounder David Wiese, who now represents Namibia in international cricket, took 3-23 from his four overs.
Captain Babar Azam continued his stellar form this season with a top score 53 to help Peshawar post 196-8 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Gladiators.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Saim Ayub each provided good support for their skipper with 33 and 30, respectively, while Rovman Powell finished 28*.
Akeal Hosein was the star of the show with the ball for the Gladiators with 4-23 from his four overs including a hat trick with the wickets of Aamer Jamal (5), Mehran Mumtaz (0) and Luke Wood (0) in the 16th over.
The Gladiators were then reduced to 120 all out off 17.5 overs.
It was a collective effort with the ball for the Zalmi as Saim Ayub, Luke Wood, Khurram Shahzad and Mehran Mumtaz all took a pair of wickets.
Peshawar have now officially booked their ninth consecutive trip to the PSL playoffs.
Full Scores: Peshawar Zalmi 196-8 off 20 overs (Babar Azam 53, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 33, Saim Ayub 30, Rovman Powell 28*, Akeal Hosein 4-23)
Quetta Gladiators 120 all out off 17.5 overs (Saud Shakeel 24, Khurram Shahzad 2-15, Saim Ayub 2-20, Luke Wood 2-21, Mehran Mumtaz 2
The left-arm paceman has not played for his country since April 2017, but remains as driven as ever to showcase his talents on the international stage.
Tanvir was the leading wicket-taker when Northern won the National T20 Cup late last year and is determined to catch Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq's eye with a fruitful Pakistan Super League campaign for Multan Sultans.
Mohammad Hafeez, 39, and Shoaib Malik, 38, have recently been recalled by Misbah and 35-year-old Tanvir believes his skill and experience can also be invaluable for Pakistan.
The quick told Omnisport: "I feel that if you don't have the inspiration to play for your country there is no point in playing cricket.
"I started playing when I was seven or eight years old with the dream of playing for my country, that gave me inspiration and I worked hard, made it and played for my country.
"I have always wanted to play well and show my worth. Unfortunately for around two and a half years or so, I didn't play for Pakistan but I'm still inspired to do that and the PSL is going to be key not only for me, but many players trying to play for Pakistan.
"The T20 team is not settled at the moment and the places are pretty much open, so I'm still fancying my chances."
Tanvir says the appointment of Misbah to replace Mickey Arthur has given him renewed hope of wearing the famous green shirt once again.
He added "The mindset is different, Mickey came with a different mindset and approach, he was just giving chances to youngsters.
"On his behalf fair enough, I won't argue about it but Misbah has a different mindset. We have seen more experienced players such as Shoaib Malik and Hafeez coming back into the team, that means age is not an issue and anybody can get a chance.
"That is how it should be, if someone is doing well. You want to win games for your country, it doesn't matter if you are 35 years old or 20 years old, the motivation is to win the game.
"If someone comes into the game with a lot of experience and still wins you games, that is a plus-plus for you instead of youngsters coming in with no experience.
"We all know the pressure of playing T20 cricket, things change very quickly and you have to make instant decisions. Having that experience gives you more confidence in yourself.
"I've not been playing international cricket, but I've been playing in high-quality leagues very close to the level of international cricket. I believe I can serve my country well again.
"The T20 World Cup is in sight this year and there is one next year as well, so I'm fancying my chances.
"I'm right on top of my game, fitness-wise and performance-wise I'm pretty much there, PSL is the key now.
"I had a conversation with Misbah and he was pretty much clear, as other key people have said, we will be looking at PSL, then check on fitness and performance."
Pollard was expected to join Peshawar after West Indies tour of Sri Lanka but the West Indies allrounder's injury means he won't play this year's tournament.
Brathwaite was originally called-up as cover for Pollard till March 6, with that arrangement now being extended for the duration of the tournament.
“I’m sorry I can’t be there in person this year, but the team has some inspirational characters leading the charge and I’m sure can give Daren (Sammy) his first trophy as a head coach,” Pollard said in a statement.
Peshawar, with nine points, is joint leader with Multan Sultans in the six-team event and will play its remaining two league matches against Lahore Qalandars and against Multan next week.
The former Pakistan captain was involved in an accident after attending the Pakistan Super League player draft held in the city on Sunday.
Shoaib, 38, was reported to have skidded and hit a truck parked close to a restaurant near the Pakistan Cricket Board's high-performance centre where the draft was staged.
"I am perfectly all right everybody," he posted on Twitter.
"It was just a happenstance accident and Almighty has been extremely benevolent.
"Thank you to each one of you who've reached out. I am deeply grateful for all the love and care."
Shoaib has played 35 Tests, 287 one-day internationals and 75 Twenty20 games for Pakistan.
Simmons, who played 26 Tests and 143 ODIs from 1987 to 1999, has enjoyed an extensive coaching career including multiple stints with West Indies, the most recent of which ended after the team's first-round exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. He is currently head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket (MLC).
Simmons played one international game in Karachi, during the 1987 World Cup, and he said in a statement that he looked forward to returning to the city and working with Kings team director Haider Azhar.
"Returning to Karachi, a city I hold dear from my playing days, feels like a homecoming," Simmons said.
"I am thrilled to join forces with Haider Azhar and the rest of the team's think tank, drawing from the rich cricketing heritage of this country. I am thankful to team owner Salman Iqbal, CEO Tariq Wasi, and Karachi Kings management for this opportunity. We are eager to move ahead with our rebuilding and restart process of Karachi Kings and establish this franchise as a match-winning unit."
Kings have won one title - in 2020 - in eight seasons of the PSL. They will hope the appointment of Simmons will revive their fortunes after their failure to make the playoffs of the tournament in both 2022 and 2023.
Simmons' first task will be building Kings' squad during the player draft on Wednesday. Kings currently have eight players on their roster: Shan Masood (captain), James Vince, Hasan Ali, Shoaib Malik, Tabraiz Shamsi, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Akhlaq and Muhammad Irfan Khan.
The 2024 season of the PSL is scheduled to run from February 13 to March 18.
Pollard’s 57 from 34 balls during a 65-run partnership with Tim David after Multan Sultans lost Usman Khan for 29, Mohammad Rizwan for 33 and Rilee Rossouw for 13 to be 90-3 in the 13th over. The powerfully built Trinidadian smashed one four and six sixes, three of them coming off the bowling of Shaheen Afridi in the 19th over that yielded 20 runs.
He was eventually bowled by Haris Rauf in the final over in which Multan Sultans also lost the wicket of Khushdil the very next ball.
David remained unbeaten on 22 watched from the other end as Rauf finished with figures of 3-34 when the innings closed at 160-5.
Needing eight runs an over for victory, Lahore Qalanders found the going tough at 15-2 as Cottrell dismissed Mirza Baig for eight and Abdullah Shafique for a duck in the third over. Anwar Ali bowled Fakhar Azam for six and Lahore were quickly in deep trouble on 19-3.
Cottrell picked up his third wicket when he dismissed Afridi for a duck in the fifth over to make it 28-4. Pollard got rid of Sikandar Raza for one as Lahore crumbled towards defeat.
Sam Billings scored 19 and Rauf 15 but wickets continued to regularly as Lahore folded for 76 in 14.3 overs.
Cottrell finished with 3-20 while Pollard took 1-3 from the only over he bowled.
Pollard achieved the milestone in a Pakistan Super League game between the Multan Sultans and the Lahore Qalandars.
The 35-year-old entered the game needing just 16 runs to achieve the feat and made 39 off 28 balls including two fours and three sixes as his Sultans suffered a 21-run defeat at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Pollard, the all-time leader in T20s played with 620, brought up his milestone in 550 innings.
Overall, the Trinidadian now has 12,023 runs at an average of 31.15 including one hundred and 56 fifties.
Only two batsmen have scored more T20 runs than Pollard: Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik who has 12,515 runs in 509 matches including 77 fifties and, of course, Chris Gayle who has 14,562 runs in 463 matches including a record 22 hundreds and 88 fifties.
Chasing 155, Pollard bludgeoned an unbeaten 49 off 21 balls with four towering sixes and four boundaries to take Kings home in 16.5 overs for their first win in the tournament.
Babar's landmark 271st T20 in which he became the fastest batter to reach 10,000 runs saw Zalmi getting bowled out for 154 in 19.5 overs after the Kings won the toss and elected to field.
Babar followed his half-century in the first game against Quetta Gladiators with a knock of 72 off 51 balls, but his effort went in vain for the second successive game.
Zalmi's innings revolved around Babar's brilliance after it lost three wickets inside the batting powerplay with Shoaib Malik dismissing Saim Ayub off the first ball with a full-pitched delivery that didn't turn much. Hasan Ali, playing against his former franchise, also had a dream start when he knocked back Tom Kohler-Cadmore's off stump off his first ball.
Babar revived the innings with Rovman Powell (39) in a 68-run stand and Asif Ali scored 23 before Peshawar lost its last six wickets for only 18 runs in the last four overs. Powell top-edged a reverse sweep against left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz a while Asif holed out at long-on.
Left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza (3-28), who bowled to hard lengths with the new ball, chipped in with the wickets of Aamer Jamal and then took a fine return catch to dismiss Babar in his last over as the Zalmi innings folded quickly.
Pollard brought an early finish when he smashed three straight sixes and two fours in a 27-run over against Afghanistan's left-arm wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil, one of the two changes Zalmi made after losing the first match by 16 runs. Salamkheil conceded 54 off his four overs and got Malik stumped for run-a-ball 29.
James Vince remained unbeaten on 38 and ended up denying Pollard a chance at a much-deserved half-century when he drove Luke Wood (2-20) for the winning boundary in the 17th over.
Kings, who lost their first game against Multan Sultans by 55 runs, have two points from two games while Zalmi is still looking for their first win.
Peshawar first posted 147-6 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Captain Babar Azam led the way with 51 off 46 balls including five fours and a six while Powell’s knock lasted 18 balls and included three fours.
Arafat Minhas was excellent with the ball for the Kings going for just 11 in his four overs and picking up one wicket in the process.
Karachi were then restricted to 145-5 from their 20 overs in their reply.
Tim Seifert led the way with 41 while Irfan Khan ended 39* against 2-22 from Naveen-ul-Haq.
All-rounder Aamer Jamal defended 17 runs off the last over.
Full Scores: Peshawar Zalmi 147-6 off 20 overs (Babar Azam 51, Rovman Powell 30, Arafat Minhas 1-11)
Karachi Kings 145-5 off 20 overs (Tim Seifert 41, Irfan Khan 39, Naveen-ul-Haq 2-22)
Zalmi posted 242-6 from their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Captain Babar Azam followed up a hundred in their last game with a top score of 73 while fellow opener, Saim Ayub made 58. Azam’s knock lasted 39 deliveries and included nine fours and two sixes while Ayub faced 33 balls and hit five fours and four sixes.
Englishman Tom Kohler-Cadmore also contributed an 18-ball 38. Medium pacer Abbas Afridi took 4-39 off his four overs for the Sultans.
Then, with a mountain to climb after losing openers Shan Masood (5) and Momammad Rizwan (7) early, Rossouw and Pollard put together what ended up being a match-winning 99-run third-wicket partnership.
Pollard made a 25-ball 52, hitting three fours and five sixes in the process but it was Rossouw who was the star of the show.
The South African’s 121 came off just 51 balls and included 12 fours and eight sixes as he was the last Sultans wicket to fall , going in the 19th over with the score on 227. He brought up his hundred off 41 balls, making it the fastest hundred in PSL history, bettering his own record of 43 balls set against the Quetta Gladiators in 2020.
In the end, cameos from Anwar Ali (24*) and Usama Mir (11*) led Multan over the line. The Sultans are the third team to book a spot in the playoffs after the Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United.
Scores: Peshawar Zalmi 242-4 off 20 overs (Babar Azam 73, Saim Ayub 58, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 38, Mohammad Haris 35, Abbas Afridi 4-39) Multan Sultans 244-6 off 19.1 overs(Rilee Rossouw 121, Kieron Pollard 52, Anwar Ali 24*, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-62).
Chasing a slightly below-par target of 166, the visitors raced away to 57 off just 29 deliveries through their openers Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel.
Both batters made use of the powerplay, notably the Englishman who went hammer and tongs at the Karachi bowlers. However, the partnership was broken off the last ball of the powerplay when Shakeel fell to Hasan Ali. The breakthrough spurred a collapse for the Gladiators as they lost four more wickets for just 32 runs in the next 37 deliveries. Zahid Mahmood's wrist spin proved tricky to handle on a slightly two-paced surface at the National Stadium.
While the leggie picked the big wickets of Rilee Rossouw and Khawaja Nafay, Hasan Ali removed Sarfaraz Ahmed while Shoaib Malik took the big scalp of Roy. From a cozy 57/0, the Gladiators were staring down the barrel at 89/5 in the 14th over. Rutherford, though, showed no signs of panic and got good support from Hosein as the duo went about their work effortlessly. They struck sixes with frequency and then rotated strike to take the game deep. From 66 off 36, it became 45 off 24 and then 25 off 12. Hasan's penultimate over went for just 10 despite a six in it, leaving 15 to get off the final over.
Anwar Ali, playing his first game of the season, couldn't hold his nerve as Rutherford smashed him for sixes off the first two balls to virtually seal the deal. The pacer did drag the game deep to the final ball but couldn't prevent a Gladiators win. There was massive drama off the penultimate ball when Anwar missed an opportunity to run out Rutherford - the all-rounder went all the way to the stumps to whip the bails off when a gentle throw would have caught the West Indian short. It was to be Karachi's final chance of salvaging something from the game as Rutherford had the last laugh off the final ball.
Earlier on, though, Anwar's unbeaten 14-ball 25 is what gave the Kings some respectability to their finish with the bat. James Vince (37 off 25) and Tim Seifert (21 off 11) had gotten the hosts off to a flier after skipper Shan Masood's first-over dismissal, racking up 61 off the powerplay. However, once Gladiators' spin duo of Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed got into the act, things changed drastically as the Kings lost wickets at regular intervals. Mohammad Nawaz created some impetus in the middle overs but couldn't convert his starts.
Just when the Kings had gotten themselves to a position for the final assault, they lost wickets in a heap. From a potential total of 180-plus, even 160 looked doubtful before Anwar's flurry in the 20th over gave the Kings something to bowl at. It was a below-par total but they nearly still made a game of it.
Brief scores: Karachi Kings 165/8 in 20 overs (James Vince 37, Mohammad Nawaz 28, Abrar Ahmed 3-31, Usman Tariq 2-16) lost to Quetta Gladiators 169/5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 58*, Jason Roy 52, Zahid Mahmood 2-17) by five wickets
Zalmi won the toss and elected to field first but were left to regret that decision when Quetta openers Ahsan Ali and Will Smeed put on a massive 155-run partnership for the first wicket before Ali was dismissed for 73 in the 16th over.
Smeed, a 20-year-old Englishman, was eventually dismissed for 97, in the final over, to see the Gladiators finish with a formidable 190-4 off their 20 overs.
Smeed’s 97 came off 62 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.
Pakistani Usman Qadir was the best bowler for Zalmi with 2-20 off his four overs.
Openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Yasir Khan put on 43 for the first wicket before Khan was dismissed in the fourth over for 30 off 12 balls.
Kohler-Cadmore was next to go for 22 to leave the Zalmi 62-2.
Jamaica Tallawahs batsman Haider Ali also contributed 19 before the chase was spearheaded by Hussain Talat and captain Shoaib Malik with scores of 52 off 29 balls and 48 not out off 32 balls, respectively.
Rutherford also contributed 10 runs off nine balls to put them on the brink of victory, being dismissed in the final over with three runs to win.
Malik then hit the winning runs to close the innings on 191-5.
Mohammed Nawaz took 3-44 from four overs for the Gladiators.
The 2022 PSL started yesterday with the Multan Sultans beating the Karachi Kings by seven wickets.
The Kings, led by the number-one-ranked T20 batsman in the world Babar Azam, won the toss and chose to field.
Peshawar posted 173-4 off their 20 overs thanks to a top score of 52 not out off 28 balls from Captain Shoaib Malik that included five fours and two sixes.
Afghanistan power hitter Hazratullah Zazai contributed a 27-ball 41 at the top of the innings while Rutherford ended not out on nine from four balls with one six.
Umaid Asif was the best bowler for the Kings with 3-36 from four overs.
Despite a well-compiled 90 not out off 63 balls from Azam, the Kings ended agonizingly short of their target finishing 164-6 off their 20 overs.
Babar’s knock included 12 fours and one six while Englishman Ian Cockbain was the next best contributor with 31 from 19 balls.
Mohammad Umar was the pick of the Zalmi bowlers with 3-22 from his four overs.
Peshawar Zalmi are now fourth in the points table with four points while the Karachi Kings have yet to register a point after registering their fourth loss in as many games.
