Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad live — the reverse fixture, from the Yellow Storm’s side. Zalmi’s view of the rivalry.
Quick answer: No Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad match is live today (off-season). From Zalmi’s side, the rivalry has never looked better: the 70-run qualifier win (28 April 2026), Babar’s 103, the 14–13 head-to-head lead — the first clear advantage in the fixture’s history — and then the 2026 title. Watch on PTV Sports / Tamasha in season.
Zalmi’s View of the Rivalry
Ask a Zalmi fan about Islamabad United and you’ll get a decade of grievances in return: the 2016 humiliation (Sharjeel’s 117), the 2018 final (Ronchi’s 52 chasing 148 in Karachi, the most painful night in franchise history), the years of being the people’s team without the trophies to match. For most of the rivalry, United had the titles (3) and Zalmi had the noise. 2026 changed everything.
The Qualifier, Retold
28 April 2026, National Bank Stadium, Karachi. United won the toss and bowled — the “smart” call at a chasing ground. Then Babar Azam produced the innings of the season: 103 off 59, 12 fours, 4 sixes, caught Mohsin Riaz bowled Salman Mirza only after the damage was terminal. 221/7. United’s reply had one moment of hope — Sameer Minhas’s 44 off 23 — before Aaron Hardie (3/24) ended it, caught by Babar himself. 151 all out. Won by 70 runs. The margin flattered United.
Exorcising the Ghosts
That night buried two ghosts at once. First, the head-to-head tie: 13–13 across 26 meetings for a decade — Zalmi now lead 14–13, the first clear advantage either side has held. Second, the playoff hoodoo: Zalmi had made a habit of falling in qualifiers; this time they swept through to their first final since 2019 — and then won it, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets on 3 May. From 2018’s heartbreak to 2026’s coronation, the arc is complete. The full rivalry history: our complete IU vs PZ guide.
What Comes Next
Zalmi are defending champions heading into PSL 12 (18 March–2 May 2027), and the rivalry dynamic has flipped: it is now United chasing Zalmi. The auction will reshape both squads — United’s data-driven rebuild against Zalmi’s title-winning core of Babar, Mendis, Sufiyan and Hardie. For Zalmi’s team hub, see Peshawar Zalmi live; for streaming, Islamabad vs Peshawar live.
The revenge narrative writes itself: United’s three titles still lead the league, but their most recent memory of this fixture is a 70-run humbling in a qualifier. Expect United to target the next meeting as a statement game — full-strength XI, aggressive tactics, and Shadab’s leg-spin deployed early against Babar. Zalmi, meanwhile, will walk in as champions with the rivalry lead. The 14–13 scoreline means the next chapter decides whether this becomes a genuine Zalmi era or just a two-win blip.
Zalmi vs Islamabad: FAQs
Is Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad live today?
No — off-season. Next meeting: PSL 12 (18 March–2 May 2027).
Who won the last Zalmi vs Islamabad match?
Peshawar Zalmi by 70 runs — 28 April 2026 (Babar 103 off 59).
Who leads the rivalry now?
Peshawar Zalmi lead 14–13 across 28 meetings — the first clear lead in the fixture’s history.
How many titles do Zalmi have now?
Two — 2017 and 2026. Islamabad United have three (2016, 2018, 2024).
