Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Timeline: Every PSL Season from 2016 to 2026
The Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings timeline covers one of PSL’s most one-sided yet consistently entertaining rivalries. Zalmi lead this head-to-head record by a wide margin — 17 wins to Karachi’s 9 across 26 PSL meetings — but several of those nine Karachi wins came in dramatic finishes that keep fans watching every time these two sides meet.
From Kamran Akmal’s 104 in the early seasons to Kusal Mendis’s 109 off 52 balls in 2026 that produced the heaviest defeat in PSL history, this fixture keeps producing moments. Here is the full picture — season by season, stat by stat.
Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings — Season by Season
| Season | Winner | Margin | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSL 2016 — Match 1 | Karachi Kings | 9 runs | KK win the first ever meeting. Karachi edge a tight contest |
| PSL 2016 — Match 2 | Peshawar Zalmi | 24 runs | Zalmi level the season series. Wahab Riaz controls the match with the ball |
| PSL 2017 — Match 1 | Peshawar Zalmi | — | Zalmi dominant. Kamran Akmal fires at the top. Zalmi go on to win PSL 2017 title |
| PSL 2017 — Match 2 | Peshawar Zalmi | — | Zalmi complete the season double over Karachi. Wahab Riaz takes crucial wickets |
| PSL 2018 — Match 1 (Dubai) | Karachi Kings | 5 wkts | KK win in Dubai. One of Karachi’s few early-era wins in this fixture |
| PSL 2018 — Match 2 (Sharjah) | Peshawar Zalmi | 44 runs | Zalmi dominant at Sharjah. Karachi’s batting collapses chasing |
| PSL 2018 — Match 3 (Lahore) | Peshawar Zalmi | 13 runs | Zalmi win a close one at Lahore. PSL 2018 final eventually goes to Peshawar too |
| PSL 2019 — Match 1 (Sharjah) | Peshawar Zalmi | 44 runs | Kamran Akmal smashes 104 — highest individual score in rivalry |
| PSL 2019 — Match 2 (Karachi) | Peshawar Zalmi | 61 runs | Zalmi dominate. Karachi cannot contain Akmal and top order |
| PSL 2020 — Match 1 (Karachi) | Karachi Kings | 10 runs | Babar Azam (78) and Imad Wasim (50) power KK to 201/4 |
| PSL 2020 — Match 2 (Rawalpindi) | Karachi Kings | 6 wkts | KK win again and go on to lift PSL 2020 title |
| PSL 2021 — Match 1 (Karachi) | Karachi Kings | 6 wkts | Babar Azam leads from front. Strong home performance |
| PSL 2021 — Match 2 (Abu Dhabi) | Peshawar Zalmi | 6 wkts | Zalmi bounce back in UAE leg |
| PSL 2021 — Eliminator | Peshawar Zalmi | 5 wkts | Hazratullah Zazai 77 knocks KK out. Zalmi reach final |
| PSL 2022 — Match 1 | Peshawar Zalmi | 9 runs | 199 vs 197 thriller. Last-ball drama |
| PSL 2022 — Match 2 | Peshawar Zalmi | 55 runs | Dominant all-round Zalmi performance |
| PSL 2023 — Match 1 | Peshawar Zalmi | 2 runs | One of the closest finishes in rivalry history |
| PSL 2023 — Match 2 | Peshawar Zalmi | — | Zalmi complete another season double |
| PSL 2024 — Match 1 (Lahore) | Karachi Kings | 7 wkts | Pollard 49 off 21 leads chase |
| PSL 2024 — Match 2 (Karachi) | Peshawar Zalmi | 2 runs | Zalmi defend 147 in another nail-biter |
| PSL 2025 — Match 1 | Karachi Kings | — | KK win first meeting despite Babar playing for Zalmi |
| PSL 2025 — Match 2 | Karachi Kings | 23 runs | James Vince 72 helps KK seal season double |
| PSL 2026 — Match 17 | Peshawar Zalmi | 159 runs | Zalmi post 246/3. Karachi all out 87 — biggest win ever |
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How the Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Head to Head Record Breaks Down
Early Seasons: 2016 to 2019
2016 — The Fixture Starts With One Each
The first meeting between these two franchises in PSL 2016 went to Karachi Kings by 9 runs. Both sides were finding their identity in a brand new league. Zalmi levelled in the second meeting, winning by 24 runs. Wahab Riaz’s pace attack was already showing what it would mean for this fixture — sharp, aggressive, hard to score against in the death overs.
2017 and 2018 — Zalmi Take Control
Peshawar Zalmi won both meetings in 2017 and completed the season double again in 2018, winning two of three matches. Wahab Riaz finished the 2017 PSL as the most feared bowler in the competition and Zalmi lifted the title that year. Against Karachi specifically, their combination of Kamran Akmal’s explosive opening and Wahab’s wicket-taking made them almost impossible to handle across two full seasons.
2019 — Kamran Akmal’s 104 Sets This Rivalry’s Individual Record
In PSL 2019 at Sharjah, Kamran Akmal scored 104 against Karachi Kings — the highest individual innings ever recorded in this fixture. He dismantled the Kings bowling from ball one. Zalmi won by 44 runs. They won the second meeting too, by 61 runs. Across 2017, 2018 and 2019 combined, Karachi won just once against Peshawar in seven attempts.
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2020 and 2021 — Karachi Kings’ Best Period in This Fixture
PSL 2020 — KK’s First 200+ Total and Back-to-Back Wins
PSL 2020 produced Karachi Kings’ best run against Zalmi. In the first meeting at National Stadium, Babar Azam scored 78 and Imad Wasim hit 50 as Karachi posted 201/4 — their first-ever 200-plus total in the PSL. They won by 10 runs.
They won the second meeting too, and went on to lift the PSL 2020 trophy. That title run remains Karachi’s only PSL championship.
PSL 2021 Eliminator — Zazai Knocks Out Karachi
The 2021 season saw Karachi win the league match but Zalmi take revenge when it mattered. In the Eliminator in Abu Dhabi, Hazratullah Zazai came out and smashed 77 off 38 balls to chase down Karachi’s 175/7. Peshawar won by 5 wickets and ended Karachi’s season. That knockout win pushed Zalmi to the PSL 2021 final, where they lost to Multan Sultans.
2022 to 2024 — Close Finishes, Two-Run Wins, Nail-Biter Cricket
PSL 2022 — A 2-Run Thriller Then a 55-Run Win
The first 2022 meeting between these teams produced one of the best matches in the history of this fixture. Peshawar posted 199/5 and Karachi replied with 197/5 — losing by 2 runs off the last ball. That match had everything: momentum swings, big hitting, a death-over collapse from Karachi when they needed 7 from the last over and fell short.
The second meeting was a straightforward Zalmi win by 55 runs. The season series went 2-0 to Peshawar.
PSL 2024 — KK Win First, PZ Win Second in Another Two-Run Finish
In PSL 2024, Karachi won the first meeting at Lahore by 7 wickets, with Kieron Pollard’s 49 off 21 balls being the match-turning cameo. Zalmi then won the second meeting by 2 runs in Karachi — Babar Azam scored 72 but it was the bowling that defended the total. Two-run margins are a recurring theme in this peshawar vs karachi fixture and the 2024 season gave fans another one.
PSL 2025 — Karachi Kings Win Both Meetings
PSL 2025 stands as Karachi Kings’ best season in this fixture since 2020. They won both meetings — the first in Karachi and the second in Rawalpindi by 23 runs. In the Rawalpindi match, James Vince scored 72 and Abbas Afridi took key wickets to control Zalmi’s chase. The season double gave Karachi back-to-back wins against Peshawar for the first time in years.
Zalmi had a mixed PSL 2025 overall. Babar Azam continued to produce strong individual scores but the team’s middle order did not fire consistently enough. They failed to reach the final.
PSL 2026 — The Biggest Win in the Rivalry’s History
April 9, 2026 — National Stadium, Karachi. Peshawar Zalmi 246/3 beat Karachi Kings 87 all out by 159 runs — the heaviest defeat ever in PSL history. Kusal Mendis 109 off 52 balls. Babar Azam 87* off 51. Partnership of 191. Nahid Rana 3/7. Sufiyan Muqeem 3/18. David Warner out for a golden duck. Karachi bowled out in 16.1 overs.
This is the match that resets the conversation around the peshawar zalmi vs karachi kings head to head record for 2026. Karachi had been unbeaten before this game. Zalmi arrived with momentum from a win the night before and produced a complete performance — their 246/3 is the highest total they have ever posted, and Kusal Mendis became the first Sri Lankan player to score a PSL century in the process.
The 191-run stand between Mendis and Babar Azam is the highest partnership in PSL history. Karachi’s 87 all out is the lowest total ever recorded at the National Stadium in a PSL match. The 159-run winning margin surpassed the previous record for the biggest win in PSL history.
Head-to-Head Records by Venue
| Venue / Context | Played | PZ Wins | KK Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Stadium, Karachi | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Neutral / Away (UAE, Lahore, Rawalpindi) | 14 | 12 | 2 |
| Playoff Meetings | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Karachi hold a narrow edge at their own National Stadium — 5 wins to 4. Away from Karachi, Peshawar have been dominant, winning 12 of 14 encounters. That split defines this rivalry clearly: Karachi are difficult to beat at home, but on any other surface Zalmi take control.
Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Players — Individual Records
| Player | Team | Record in This Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| Kamran Akmal | Peshawar Zalmi | 498 runs — most by any batter. Highest score 104 (PSL 2019 Sharjah) |
| Babar Azam | PZ / KK | 497+ runs across both teams. 87* in PSL 2026 — best in fixture |
| James Vince | Karachi Kings | Leading KK scorer in recent years. 72 in PSL 2025 Rawalpindi win |
| Wahab Riaz | Peshawar Zalmi | 17 wickets — joint most in this rivalry |
| Mohammad Amir | Karachi Kings | 17 wickets — joint record holder. Key bowler (2018–2021) |
| Hasan Ali | Karachi Kings | 14 wickets — third highest. Backbone of KK pace attack |
| Kusal Mendis | Peshawar Zalmi | 109 (52) in PSL 2026 — highest score in this fixture |
| Abbas Afridi | Karachi Kings | Top KK wicket-taker (2025–2026). Best 3/28 in rivalry |
Babar Azam is the most interesting name in this peshawar zalmi vs karachi kings players conversation — he has played for both sides at different points in his career and scored heavily against both sets of bowlers.
His record in this fixture sits just below Kamran Akmal’s all-time total but his average is higher. In PSL 2026 he scored 87 not out for Zalmi in the match where Mendis stole all the headlines.
Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir sharing the wicket-taking record at 17 each captures the pace rivalry at the heart of this fixture. Both are right-arm pace bowlers who have repeatedly broken partnerships at key moments in close finishes.
What This Fixture Looks Like in 2026
In PSL 2026, Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam leads a side that includes Kusal Mendis, Abdul Samad, Michael Bracewell, Aamer Jamal, and Nahid Rana. They sit near the top of the table after that 159-run win in Karachi.
Karachi Kings, led by David Warner, have struggled to recover from that defeat. Warner’s golden duck off the first ball set the tone for a collapse that nobody expected given how well Karachi had started the season. Abbas Afridi, Moeen Ali, and Salman Agha give them the tools to compete in any match, but their batting depth was exposed badly against Zalmi’s attack.
The peshawar vs karachi today match narrative in PSL 2026 has firmly shifted to Zalmi. The head-to-head record across 26 matches stands at 17-9 to Peshawar. That gap has not closed over time — if anything PSL 2026 has widened it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings head to head record in PSL?
Peshawar Zalmi lead Karachi Kings 17–8 in 25 PSL matches (2016–2026). Zalmi dominate neutral venues (12–2), while Karachi have a slight edge at the National Stadium (5–4).
Q2. Who has taken the most wickets in Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings matches?
Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir share the record with 17 wickets each. Hasan Ali is third with 14 wickets.
Q3. What happened in the PSL 2026 Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi match?
Peshawar Zalmi beat Karachi Kings by 159 runs, the biggest win in PSL history. Kusal Mendis scored 109, while Babar Azam added 87* as Zalmi posted 246/3.
Q4. When did Karachi Kings win their PSL title?
Karachi Kings won their only PSL title in 2020, beating Zalmi twice in the league stage that season.
Q5. What is the highest score in Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings matches?
The highest total is 246/3 by Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026, powered by Mendis (109) and Babar Azam (87*).
Q6. Who are the captains of Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings in PSL 2026?
Babar Azam leads Peshawar Zalmi, while David Warner captains Karachi Kings in PSL 2026.
Final Thoughts on the Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Timeline
The peshawar zalmi vs karachi kings timeline runs from a tight 9-run Karachi win in 2016 to Zalmi’s record 159-run victory in 2026. Overall, Zalmi lead 17–8 and have dominated most seasons, while Karachi’s best phases came in 2020 (title) and 2025 (season sweep).
Player records highlight the rivalry’s quality. Kamran Akmal leads with 498 runs, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir share 17 wickets each, and Kusal Mendis’ 109 in 2026 stands out as a defining knock. Despite the gap in wins, the rivalry stays competitive through big individual moments.
