PSL 2026 Team of the Tournament- Image Credits: X/AFP
The Pakistan Super League 2026 has concluded, and Peshawar Zalmi lifted the trophy for the second time. The Babar Azam-led unit romped over the first-time finalists, Hyderabad Kingsmen, to win comfortably by a solid margin.
The Zalmis were a dominant side from the very beginning, with a strong presence in the group stage. They won 8 out of their 10 games to assert dominance and rightfully claimed the trophy with campaign winners like Kusal Mendis and Mohammad Haris.
Nevertheless, talents like Usman Khan and Sahibzada Farha can also not be forgotten, who contributed extraordinarily to be one of the leading run-scorers in the tournament.
With the conclusion of the tournament and with a pool of talent in the league, let’s take a look at the PSLL team of the tournament for the 2026 edition.
Best XI of PSL 2026
Openers and Top Order- Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith
The opening duo for the PSL 2026 team of the tournament would be Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. The all-experienced Pakistan veterans who have also led the batting charge in this tournament with their absolute experience.
From 11 matches, Babar Azam averages 73.5, while Fakhar Zaman averages 57.28 from 8 outings. The duo, strong and united as ever, would be a mammoth presence in front of any bowling attack of any PSL franchise.
Followed by Babar and Fakhar, Sahibzada Farhan would be a solid aggregator at number three. Although he is known more as an opener, Farhan's credentials in this edition of PSL would be enough to make him versatile at one down.
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He has made 380 runs from his 10 appearances, while having a strike rate of 166.66 and also having a century and two half-centuries to his name.
At No. 4, there will be Australian veteran Steve Smith, who represented Multan Sultans this year. From 11 matches, Smith accumulated 380 runs, although at a lower average of 34.54.
However, his potential to anchor any crunch at the top is well known and hence would be a solid cushion between the top and the middle order.
Middle Order and All-Rounders- Usman Khan (wk), Arafat Minhas, Aaron Hardie
Usman Khan, another shining prospect for Hyderabad Kingsmen in PSL 2026, scored 389 runs from 13 matches to be the fourth-highest run-getter in the tournament.
He averages 35.36 at a strike rate of 162.76, and despite being played in the top order for his team, Khan's contribution in the PSL 2026 team of the tournament would be beneficial at number five.
With a strong batting unit already from number one to number four, Khan will be essential to address any middle-order jitters, followed by all-rounders Arafat Minhas and Aaron Hardie.
Multan Sultans all-rounder Arafat Minhas scalped nine wickets in the tournament and was a good performer, scoring 144 runs from his 11 outings. His bowling average has been 25, with best figures of 3/32, which underlines how effective he will be in containing batters and contributing with the bat in times of need.
Aaron Hardie's contributions need not be explained because of his final heroics against the Kingsmen. In the PSL 2026 final, Aaron Hardie scalped four wickets and scored an unbeaten half-century to lead Peshawar Zalmi to victory in the tournament.
This further underlines how effective he is as an all-rounder. The 27-year-old, featuring for the first time in PSL, averages 44.33 with the bat while also having a strike rate of 149.43, which can impress any late-order hitter.
Bowlers- Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Nahid Rana
The all-rounders Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Nahid Rana will be leading the pace department alongside Aaron Hardie. The three leading wicket-takers of the tournament will be responsible for handling any world-class batters.
Sufyian Muqeem, the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 22 scalps to his name, will be leading the spin department alongside Shadab Khan, who took 17 wickets.
Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, who took 16 and 15 wickets respectively, will be valuable additions to lead a prominent pace department with all-around balance present in the team.
PSL 2026 Team of the Tournament- Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Usman Khan, Arafat Minhas, Aaron Hardie, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Nahid Rana
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