The Peshawar Zalmi franchise has carved a unique niche in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Since the league’s inception in 2016, they have become the only team to qualify for the playoffs in every single edition. This remarkable consistency has earned them the reputation as the PSL’s “perennial playoff contenders.”
Their inaugural season in 2016 saw them storm the tournament, finishing atop the points table in the regular season. However, their journey to the ultimate prize was far from smooth. They lost the first qualifying final to Quetta Gladiators and were forced to fight back through the eliminator and qualifier 2 stages. Unfortunately, their title aspirations were dashed in the third qualifying final by Islamabad United.
Undeterred, Peshawar Zalmi returned stronger in 2017, once again dominating the regular season by securing the top spot. This time, their path to glory was clearer. They reached the final, overcoming all hurdles, and emerged victorious to claim their first PSL title.
The following years witnessed their continued presence among the elite. In 2018, they finished third on the table but reached the final, eventually falling short against Islamabad United. Similarly, in 2019, they topped the table once more but met with contrasting results in the knockout stages. They lost the qualifier 1 but triumphed in qualifier 2, only to suffer defeat at the hands of Quetta Gladiators in the grand finale.
The 2020 season marked a slight stumble as they finished fourth and were eliminated in the eliminator by Lahore Qalandars. However, they bounced back in 2021, securing a third-place finish and battling their way through the eliminator and qualifier 2 before succumbing to Multan Sultans in the final.
The following year (2022) saw a repeat of their third-place finish, but their eliminator loss to Islamabad United ended their title chase. In 2023, they finished fourth, repeating the feat of winning the eliminator but falling short in qualifier 2 against Lahore.
Now, in the ongoing PSL 2024, Peshawar Zalmi has secured its place in the playoffs yet again, becoming the second team after Multan Sultans to do so. Currently, they sit comfortably in second place with 11 points.
Peshawar Zalmi’s consistent performance throughout the PSL’s history reflects the team’s strong management, a well-drafted squad, and a winning mentality. While they haven’t always crossed the final hurdle, their unwavering presence in the playoffs has established them as a force to be reckoned with. With the tournament still unfolding, it remains to be seen if they can finally translate their playoff consistency into their first PSL title since 2017.
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