Peshawar Zalmi knows how to get their fans buzzing for the Pakistan Super League (PSL X), and their latest move—a short film with two anthems to mark their 10-year anniversary—is pure gold. We’ve got “Dust of War” and “The Journey Home,” but hold the phone—did Zalmi just sneak a page out of Arcane’s songbook with that second one?
Some sharp-eared fans caught it quick: “The Journey Home” by Aima Baig with Bilaal Avaz and Wajid Layaq feels like it’s vibing way too hard with “To Ashes and Blood” from Arcane Season 2. Give both a listen, and yeah, it’s obvious—Zalmi might’ve “borrowed” a little too generously here.
Take the intro. Wajid Layaq kicks off “The Journey Home” with a vocal flair that’s a dead ringer for Woodkid’s brooding “You walk along the edge of danger, and it will change you…” in “To Ashes and Blood.” Sure, Wajid’s crooning in Pashtu, but the style? It’s like he’s channeling Woodkid’s soul.
Then there’s the chorus—oh man, the chorus. “To Ashes and Blood” drops those epic Shuriman chants—“Bey’fet ihru ga, ahuni lek’cho”—that hit you right in the chest. Flip over to “The Journey Home,” and Aima Baig plus her backup crew are echoing the same haunting, chant-like energy, just with some Zalmi flair swapped in. It’s like Zalmi saw Arcane’s fire and said, “Yoink, that’s ours now!”
Listen for yourselves!
And here’s the Arcane song.
Okay, credit where it’s due—they didn’t just hit copy-paste. Zalmi sprinkled their own spice into the mix with fresh lyrics and a bit of that PSL swagger. But let’s be real: hardcore Arcane fans, who wouldn’t know a cricket bat from a broomstick, are probably side-eyeing this copy-cat jam hard.
Still, for Peshawar Zalmi faithful, it’s a banger that’ll have the stands roaring come PSL time. So, did they swipe a tune from Arcane? Maybe. But if it gets the crowd hyped, who’s complaining? Imitation’s the sincerest form of flattery, right?
