One of the fiercest rivalries in Pakistan Super League history is that of Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United. Ever since the first season of PSL in 2016, both franchises have been responsible for producing nailbiters, high-scoring contests and quite a few crucial playoff battles.
By October 2026, of the 27 PSL matches played to completion between the two teams, two others were abandoned as a no-result. The completed-match rivalry is led by Peshawar Zalmi numbered 14–13, following their 70-run triumph over Islamabad United in the last match of PSL that was played in 2026 Qualifier.
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Overview
| Detail | Peshawar Zalmi | Islamabad United |
| Full Name | Peshawar Zalmi | Islamabad United |
| PSL Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
| Home City | Peshawar | Islamabad |
| Nickname | Yellow Storm | United |
| First PSL Season | 2016 | 2016 |
| PSL Titles | 2 | 3 |
| Title Years | 2017, 2026 | 2016, 2018, 2024 |
| 2026 Captain | Babar Azam | Shadab Khan |
| 2026 League Position | 1st | 3rd |
| H2H Completed Matches | 27 | 27 |
| H2H Wins | 14 | 13 |
| Official Websites | Click Here | Click Here |
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Head to Head Record
The rivalry has remained remarkably close. Peshawar had a narrow 14–13 advantage in completed matches, while two scheduled encounters were abandoned.
| Head-to-Head Record | Result |
| Total completed matches | 27 |
| Peshawar Zalmi wins | 14 |
| Islamabad United wins | 13 |
| Ties | 0 |
| No result | 0 |
| Abandoned fixtures | 2 |
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United All Matches Results
| Date | Season | Match | Result |
| 5 Feb 2016 | PSL 2016 | Peshawar 145/7 vs Islamabad 121/9 | Peshawar won by 24 runs |
| 12 Feb 2016 | PSL 2016 | Islamabad 152/6 vs Peshawar 153/3 | Peshawar won by 7 wickets |
| 21 Feb 2016 | PSL 2016 | Islamabad 176/3 vs Peshawar 126 | Islamabad won by 50 runs |
| 9 Feb 2017 | PSL 2017 | Peshawar 190/9 vs Islamabad 175/3 | Islamabad won by 7 wickets |
| 18 Feb 2017 | PSL 2017 | Peshawar 136/9 vs Islamabad 137/5 | Islamabad won by 5 wickets |
| 24 Feb 2018 | PSL 2018 | Peshawar 176/6 vs Islamabad 142/9 | Peshawar won by 34 runs |
| 9 Mar 2018 | PSL 2018 | Islamabad 182/5 vs Peshawar 156/9 | Islamabad won by 26 runs |
| 25 Mar 2018 | PSL 2018 Final | Peshawar 148/9 vs Islamabad 154/7 | Islamabad won by 3 wickets |
| 22 Feb 2019 | PSL 2019 | Islamabad 158/9 vs Peshawar 146 | Islamabad won by 12 runs |
| 1 Mar 2019 | PSL 2019 | Islamabad 176 vs Peshawar 177/6 | Peshawar won by 4 wickets |
| 15 Mar 2019 | PSL 2019 Eliminator 2 | Peshawar 214/5 vs Islamabad 166/9 | Peshawar won by 48 runs |
| 7 Mar 2020 | PSL 2020 | Islamabad 195/5 vs Peshawar 85/2 | Peshawar won by 7 runs (DLS) |
| 27 Feb 2021 | PSL 2021 | Islamabad 118 vs Peshawar 122/4 | Peshawar won by 6 wickets |
| 17 Jun 2021 | PSL 2021 | Islamabad 247/2 vs Peshawar 232/6 | Islamabad won by 15 runs |
| 22 Jun 2021 | PSL 2021 Eliminator 2 | Islamabad 174/9 vs Peshawar 177/2 | Peshawar won by 8 wickets |
| 30 Jan 2022 | PSL 2022 | Peshawar 168/6 vs Islamabad 172/1 | Islamabad won by 9 wickets |
| 17 Feb 2022 | PSL 2022 | Islamabad 196/7 vs Peshawar 206/8 | Peshawar won by 10 runs |
| 24 Feb 2022 | PSL 2022 Eliminator 1 | Peshawar 169/5 vs Islamabad 170/5 | Islamabad won by 5 wickets |
| 23 Feb 2023 | PSL 2023 | Peshawar 156/8 vs Islamabad 159/4 | Islamabad won by 6 wickets |
| 12 Mar 2023 | PSL 2023 | Islamabad 166 vs Peshawar 179/8 | Peshawar won by 13 runs |
| 16 Mar 2023 | PSL 2023 Eliminator 1 | Peshawar 183/8 vs Islamabad 171/6 | Peshawar won by 12 runs |
| 26 Feb 2024 | PSL 2024 | Peshawar 201/5 vs Islamabad 193/9 | Peshawar won by 8 runs |
| 4 Mar 2024 | PSL 2024 | Islamabad 196/4 vs Peshawar 167/9 | Islamabad won by 29 runs |
| 16 Mar 2024 | PSL 2024 Eliminator 2 | Peshawar 185/5 vs Islamabad 189/5 | Islamabad won by 5 wickets |
| 14 Apr 2025 | PSL 2025 | Islamabad 243/5 vs Peshawar 141 | Islamabad won by 102 runs |
| 2 May 2025 | PSL 2025 | Peshawar 147/4 vs Islamabad 143/9 | Peshawar won by 6 wickets |
| 28 Apr 2026 | PSL 2026 Qualifier | Peshawar 221/7 vs Islamabad 151 | Peshawar won by 70 runs |
Abandoned Matches Between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United
| Date | Season | Venue | Result |
| 29 Feb 2020 | PSL 2020 | Rawalpindi | Abandoned without a ball |
| 31 Mar 2026 | PSL 2026 | Lahore | Abandoned without a ball |
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Timeline
2016: Rivalry Begins
The bitter rivalry rooted back from the very first PSL season. Peshawar won the first two of their face-to-face meetings, with Islamabad winning 50 runs in their treklet. Islamabad would eventually reach the PSL final, where they took the first-ever title.
2017: Islamabad Dominates
Islamabad beat them in both of their 2017 meetings. Islamabad won the second by 5 wickets chasing a target of 137.
2018: Final Adds More Importance
In 2018, the teams faced each other three times. The first match was won by Peshawar, the second was won again by Islamabad and then they went on to defeat Peshawar in a PSL final by three wickets. myKhel
2019: Peshawar’s Strong Year
2019 was a year in which Peshawar had 2 wins and lost one match against Lahore as the two met three times The 214/5 they made in the Eliminator is one of the best batting performances to come from any side in this rivalry.
2020–2021: High-Scoring Era
One of the highest aggregate scores in this PSL rivalry came in their 2021 meeting. Islamabad, batting first, managed to score 247/2, while Peshawar gave a tough fightback and ended up with the total of 2326. Islamabad won by 15 runs.
2022: Three Competitive Matches
Islamabad did too much to Peshawar in their three meetings over the corresponding stage, winning two of them.
2023: Peshawar overcomes the playoff hurdle
Islamabad had taken out Peshawar in the league meeting earlier this month with a victory in February but the southern franchise could boast at least two wins by March’s end, one of them a 12-run Eliminator success. PCB
2024: Islamabad Takes Control
Islamabad won the three encounters between the two sides, including a five-wicket Eliminator 2 win that set them on course for PSL glory, as Peshawar had managed to beat them once. PCB
2025: One Win Each
On 14 April, Islamabad recorded the largest victory in the history of the rivalry, winning by 102 runs. Peshawar responded on 2 May by completing a chase of 144, winning by six wickets.
2026: Peshawar Takes the Lead
Their league fixture with them on 31 March was abandoned. Peshawar: Babar Azam 103 propelled the Pakhtoons to score 221/7 in Qualifier on April 28. The Islamabad team folded for just 151 runs. Peshawar won the match by 70 runs, and went on to clinch their second PSL title. PCB
Most Runs in Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Matches
| Rank | Player | Team(s) | Runs | Highest Score |
| 1 | Kamran Akmal | Peshawar Zalmi | 505 | 88 |
| 2 | Mohammad Haris | Peshawar Zalmi | 378 | 87 |
| 3 | Babar Azam | Peshawar Zalmi | 329+ | 111* |
| 4 | Colin Munro | Islamabad United | 309 | 71 |
| 5 | Shadab Khan | Islamabad United | 284 | 80 |
| 6 | Azam Khan | Islamabad United | 274 | 85 |
| 7 | Alex Hales | Islamabad United | 259 | 82* |
| 8 | Asif Ali | Islamabad United | 256 | 45 |
Highest Individual Scores
| Player | Team | Score | Date |
| Sharjeel Khan | Islamabad United | 117 | 21 Feb 2016 |
| Babar Azam | Peshawar Zalmi | 111* | 26 Feb 2024 |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Islamabad United | 106 | 14 Apr 2025 |
| Usman Khawaja | Islamabad United | 105* | 17 Jun 2021 |
| Babar Azam | Peshawar Zalmi | 103 | 28 Apr 2026 |
| Kamran Akmal | Peshawar Zalmi | 88 | 9 Feb 2017 |
Most Wickets in Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Matches
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| 1 | Hasan Ali | Islamabad United | 29 | 3/29 |
| 2 | Wahab Riaz | Peshawar Zalmi | 25 | 4/17 |
| 3 | Shadab Khan | Islamabad United | 25 | 3/25 |
| 4 | Faheem Ashraf | Islamabad United | 16 | 3/33 |
| 5 | Mohammad Sami | Islamabad United | 12 | 3/22 |
Best Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Team | Figures | Date |
| Arif Yaqoob | Peshawar Zalmi | 5/27 | 26 Feb 2024 |
| Wahab Riaz | Peshawar Zalmi | 4/17 | 27 Feb 2021 |
| Imran Khalid | Islamabad United | 4/20 | 21 Feb 2016 |
| Umaid Asif | Peshawar Zalmi | 4/23 | 24 Feb 2018 |
| Samit Patel | Islamabad United | 4/34 | 9 Mar 2018 |
Highest Team Scores
| Rank | Team | Score | Date | Result |
| 1 | Islamabad United | 247/2 | 17 Jun 2021 | IU won by 15 runs |
| 2 | Islamabad United | 243/5 | 14 Apr 2025 | IU won by 102 runs |
| 3 | Peshawar Zalmi | 232/6 | 17 Jun 2021 | Lost |
| 4 | Peshawar Zalmi | 221/7 | 28 Apr 2026 | PZ won by 70 runs |
| 5 | Peshawar Zalmi | 214/5 | 15 Mar 2019 | PZ won by 48 runs |
| 6 | Peshawar Zalmi | 206/8 | 17 Feb 2022 | PZ won by 10 runs |
| 7 | Peshawar Zalmi | 201/5 | 26 Feb 2024 | PZ won by 8 runs |
Lowest Team Totals
| Team | Score | Date | Result |
| Islamabad United | 118 | 27 Feb 2021 | Lost by 6 wickets |
| Islamabad United | 121/9 | 5 Feb 2016 | Lost by 24 runs |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 126 | 21 Feb 2016 | Lost by 50 runs |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 136/9 | 18 Feb 2017 | Lost by 5 wickets |
| Islamabad United | 137/5 | 18 Feb 2017 | Won by 5 wickets |
Biggest Wins
| Team | Margin | Date | Match |
| Islamabad United | 102 runs | 14 Apr 2025 | IU 243/5 vs PZ 141 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 70 runs | 28 Apr 2026 | PZ 221/7 vs IU 151 |
| Islamabad United | 50 runs | 21 Feb 2016 | IU 176/3 vs PZ 126 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 48 runs | 15 Mar 2019 | PZ 214/5 vs IU 166 |
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Playoff Record
| Year | Stage | Winner |
| 2016 | Final | Islamabad United |
| 2018 | Final | Islamabad United |
| 2019 | Eliminator 2 | Peshawar Zalmi |
| 2021 | Eliminator 2 | Peshawar Zalmi |
| 2022 | Eliminator 1 | Islamabad United |
| 2023 | Eliminator 1 | Peshawar Zalmi |
| 2024 | Eliminator 2 | Islamabad United |
| 2026 | Qualifier | Peshawar Zalmi |
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United 2026 Qualifier
The latest encounter was played on 28 April 2026 at National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
| Team | Score | Overs |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 221/7 | 20 |
| Islamabad United | 151 all out | 18.4 |
| Result | Peshawar won by 70 runs | – |
| Player of the Match | Babar Azam | 103 off 59 |
| Best Peshawar bowler | Aaron Hardie | 3/24 |
| Best Islamabad bowler | Shadab Khan | 3/42 |
Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United Players
Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United squads were a good mixture of hundreds of international experiences along with the national stars and upcoming talent. Babar Azam captained Peshawar, Shadab Khan held on to lead Islamabad United. A number of overseas stars appeared in the squads for 2026 as well.
| Player | Role | Batting/Bowling |
| Babar Azam | Captain, Batter | Right-hand batter |
| Kusal Mendis | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Right-hand batter |
| Mohammad Haris | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Right-hand batter |
| Michael Bracewell | All-rounder | Left-hand batter, Off-spin |
| Aaron Hardie | All-rounder | Right-hand batter, Right-arm pace |
| Abdul Samad | Batter | Right-hand batter |
| Farhan Yousaf | Batter | Right-hand batter |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | All-rounder | Right-hand batter, Off-spin |
| James Vince | Batter | Right-hand batter |
| Aamir Jamal | All-rounder | Right-hand batter, Right-arm pace |
| Khurram Shahzad | Bowler | Right-arm pace |
| Sufyan Moqim | Bowler | Left-arm wrist-spin |
| Ali Raza | Bowler | Right-arm pace |
| Mohammad Basit | Bowler | Left-arm pace |
| Nahid Rana | Bowler | Right-arm pace |
| Shoriful Islam | Bowler | Left-arm pace |
Conclusion
The rivalry between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United has become one of the most intense rivalries in the PSL. Islamabad United had early key wins like the 2016 and 2018 finals, but Peshawar produced their own iconic knockout victories.
At the closure of the 2026 PSL season, Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi will have completed a total of 27 matches against each other with Peshawar leading 14-13 overall. In addition to the cricketing rivalry, a number of incredible batting records have been established through this tie too; including Islamabad’s impressive 247 / 2 and best individual score of 117 by Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal Career runs in psl10 against Lahore Resurrection (505) and Hasan Ali wickets v LQ in PSL10 (29).
The most recent clash of this rivalry came in the 2026 Qualifier when Peshawar Zalmi brushed Islamabad Z to win by 70 runs on their way to their second PSL title.
FAQs
How many times have Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United played each other?
They have completed 27 PSL matches, with two additional fixtures abandoned without a result. Acs Cricket Archive
Who has won more matches between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United?
Peshawar Zalmi lead the completed head-to-head record 14–13.
Who has scored the most runs in Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United matches?
Kamran Akmal leads the historical rivalry run-scoring chart with 505 runs. Cricketwebs
Who has taken the most wickets in Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United matches?
Hasan Ali is the leading wicket-taker with 29 wickets in the available rivalry statistics. Cricketwebs
What is the highest score in Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United matches?
Islamabad United’s 247/2 in Abu Dhabi in 2021 is the highest team total in the rivalry. Acs Cricket Archive
Who won the latest Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United match?
Peshawar Zalmi won the latest completed meeting by 70 runs in the 2026 Qualifier.
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