In a season where Peshawar Zalmi have fought tooth and nail to stay in playoff contention, fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal’s breakout performance couldn’t have come at a better time for his side.
Daniyal delivered a searing spell of 3 for 17, helping bowl Multan Sultans out for just 108 in what was a must-win game for Zalmi, and the pressure was unmistakable. But according to Daniyal, the credit for his man-of-the-match performance goes to his captain, Babar Azam. The 27-year-old underlined his captain’s backing for his performance.
“I’m playing for the first time under Babar bhai’s captaincy, and he’s very supportive,” Ahmed Daniyal told reporters after Zalmi’s game. “Even today, when I was getting hit for boundaries, he kept backing me and guiding me. He doesn’t let his players feel down — that’s a big plus point.”
That encouragement translated into results. After a slightly wayward start, Daniyal bounced back, picking up the wickets of Tayyab Tahir, David Willey, and Ubaid Shah to derail Multan’s middle and lower order. His spell proved crucial in setting up a comfortable chase for Zalmi, who crossed the target inside 13 overs to stay alive in the race for the final four.
At a time when questions are being raised over Babar’s Zalmi leadership—even by those closest to him—Ahmed Daniyal’s backing comes as a big plus for the batter. And with Zalmi still fighting for a playoff spot in a tightly contested PSL 10 table, the belief instilled by their skipper could prove decisive in the coming days.
As for Daniyal, this performance has likely locked in his place for the remainder of the tournament and, perhaps even more importantly, reaffirmed that confidence and clarity from the top can make all the difference—especially when the lights are brightest.
The duo will hope to keep Zalmi’s train rolling when their team faces Karachi Kings next on May 8.
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