Peshawar Zalmi is a franchise cricket team that represents the city of Peshawar in Pakistan Super League (PSL). The team was founded in 2015 by Javed Afridi, CEO of Haier Pakistan. The name "Zalmi" means youth or young people in Pashto language and reflects the team's commitment to promoting emerging talent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In their debut season, Peshawar Zalmi finished as runners-up after losing to Islamabad United in the final. However, they bounced back strongly next year and won their first title by defeating Quetta Gladiators in a thrilling finale.
The team has consistently performed well over the years and reached playoffs every season except for one. They have also produced some exceptional players like Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Darren Sammy among others who have represented Pakistan at international level.
Overall, Peshawar Zalmi has established itself as one of the most successful franchises in PSL with a passionate fan base across Pakistan and beyond.
The team's achievements in Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Peshawar Zalmi is one of the most successful teams in the history of Pakistan Super League (PSL). They won the championship title once and have been runners-up twice. In 2017, under the captaincy of Darren Sammy, they lifted their first PSL trophy by defeating Quetta Gladiators in a thrilling final. Kamran Akmal was awarded player of the tournament for his outstanding performance throughout the season.
In 2018 and 2019, they reached finals but lost to Islamabad United on both occasions. However, their consistent performances have made them one of the strongest contenders every year.
Apart from reaching finals thrice, Peshawar Zalmi has also qualified for playoffs four times out of five seasons played so far. Their overall win-loss record stands at an impressive 35-24 with two no-results.
With a strong squad and experienced coaching staff led by head coach Mohammad Akram, Peshawar Zalmi will be looking forward to adding another championship title to their name in upcoming seasons.