PSL 2026: Champions Confirmed
Peshawar Zalmi beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets in the final at Gaddafi (3 May). PZ's 2nd PSL title, first since 2017.
✅ Our pre-final probability model had Peshawar at 48%, the only team we tipped above 25%. See our full track record →
PSL 2026 Winner Prediction | Odds & Analysis
Last updated: 24 July 2026 · Tournament concluded 3 May. Peshawar Zalmi are PSL 2026 champions. They beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. HK 129 ao (Saim Ayub 54); PZ 130/5 in 15.2 overs (Hardie 56*, Samad 48). Aaron Hardie Player of the Match (4/27 and 56*); Sufyan Moqim Player of the Tournament. Babar Azam orange cap (588 runs); Sufyan Moqim purple cap (22 wickets).
PSL 11 expanded to 8 teams for the first time. Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans (new ownership consortium) joined; the old Multan side rebranded as Rawalpindi Pindiz with Mohammad Rizwan. The league phase ran 26 March to 26 April; the playoffs run 28 April to 3 May, with the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
All 40 league matches were complete and the playoff bracket was locked. Peshawar Zalmi topped the table at 8-1-1 (17 points, NRR +2.324), the only side undefeated in regulation. The headline performance was Babar Azam’s 100* off 52 against Quetta Gladiators on 19 April (PZ 255/3, won by 118 runs): his third career PSL hundred, and the first of two he scored in PSL 2026. Islamabad United finished 2nd at 6-3-1 (13 points, NRR +1.667), sealing the seed with a 4-wicket chase of Multan on 26 April (Mark Chapman 69* off 33). Multan Sultans finished 3rd at 6-4 (12 points) after losing two consecutive league games. That sent them into Eliminator 1 instead of Qualifier 1, against expectations. Hyderabad Kingsmen sealed 4th at 5-5 (10 points, NRR -0.361) in their debut season with a 108-run thrashing of Rawalpindi (Maxwell 70 off 37, Hunain Shah 4/22 PoM). Lahore Qalandars missed the cut at 5-5 (NRR -0.482); title defence over. Kusal Mendis (PZ) ended the league phase as Green Cap leading scorer at 500 runs (average 62.50, SR 170.64), ahead of Babar (485, two centuries) and Fakhar Zaman (401). Sufyan Moqim (PZ) took the maroon cap with 19 wickets (economy 7.47).
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🏆 May 3: Peshawar Zalmi Win PSL 2026
🏆 Peshawar Zalmi beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets in the PSL 2026 final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 3 May. HK posted 129 all out in 18 overs; PZ chased 130 in 15.2 overs (28 balls to spare). PZ's second PSL title, their first since 2017, ending a nine-year trophy drought.
🏆 Aaron Hardie, Player of the Match: 4/27 with the ball and 56* with the bat. Match-winning all-round performance. The Australian all-rounder, signed as a direct buy by PZ, delivered the headline performance of the tournament when it mattered most.
🏆 Other key performances in the final: Saim Ayub top-scored 54 for HK. Mohammad Ali 3/38 for HK. Abdul Samad 48 for PZ alongside Hardie's unbeaten fifty. The chase was clinical; PZ never lost their grip on a low total.
🥇 Sufyan Moqim, Player of the Tournament. The PZ leg-spinner finished the season as both the leading wicket-taker (22 wickets, purple cap) and the tournament's standout performer. Combined with the cap title, the dual award capped a stand-out campaign.
🟧 Babar Azam, Hanif Mohammad Cap (orange / leading run-scorer): 588 runs across the season, including two centuries (one a rapid 52-ball hundred vs QG, 19 April). His first PSL trophy as captain.
🟪 Sufyan Moqim, Fazal Mehmood Cap (purple / leading wicket-taker): 22 wickets at economy 7.47.
✅ Our prediction: We had Peshawar Zalmi at 48% in our final pre-playoff update, the only team we tipped above 25%. The pre-tournament ISU @ 7.50 call closed CLV+. Our pre-playoff model called the winner correctly. Track record →
📊 Final standings: 1. Peshawar Zalmi (Champions). 2. Hyderabad Kingsmen (Runners-up, best debut-franchise finish in PSL history). 3. Multan Sultans (knocked out in eliminator bracket). 4. Islamabad United (knocked out in playoffs). LQ, KK, QG, RWP eliminated at the league stage.
📊 April 27: Playoff Bracket Locked
🏆 PZ topped the league at 8-1-1, 17pts, NRR +2.324: Only side undefeated in regulation. Babar Azam scored two centuries, including a 52-ball hundred vs QG on 19 April (PZ 255/3, won by 118 runs). Mendis ended Green Cap at 500 runs, Moqim maroon cap at 19 wickets.
🏆 IU sealed 2nd seed with chase of MS (26 April): Chapman 69* off 33 anchored an 8-balls-to-spare chase of 193 at Karachi. IU finish 6-3-1 (13pts, NRR +1.667) and play PZ in Qualifier 1 on 28 April. The winner goes straight to the final.
🏆 HK qualify 4th with 108-run thrashing of RWP (26 April): Maxwell 70 off 37, Usman Khan 54 off 26, Perera 50* off 30. RWP 136 ao chasing 245. Hunain Shah 4/22 PoM. HK's debut season delivers their first ever PSL playoff appearance. They face MS at Gaddafi on 29 April.
📊 Final League Standings: PZ 17pts (8-1-1, NRR +2.324). IU 13pts (6-3-1, NRR +1.667). MS 12pts (6-4, NRR +0.326). HK 10pts (5-5, NRR -0.361). LQ 10pts (5-5, NRR -0.482, eliminated). KK 10pts (5-5, NRR -0.869, eliminated). QG 6pts (3-7). RWP 2pts (1-9).
📊 Qualifier 1 (28 April): PZ vs IU at National Stadium Karachi. The winner went direct to the final.
📊 Playoff bracket: Q1 PZ vs IU at National Stadium Karachi (28 Apr), winner direct to final. E1 MS vs HK at Gaddafi (29 Apr), loser eliminated. E2 (Q1 loser vs E1 winner) at Gaddafi (1 May). Final at Gaddafi (3 May).
📁 Apr 13 (archived): HK beat ISU by 6 wkts. PZ at 9pts (4-0-1) clear top. MS 8pts. ISU 7pts. KK 6pts. QG/HK/LQ 4pts. RWP 0-5. PZ vs MS later that night.
📁 Apr 9-10: ISU crush LQ by 9 wkts (LQ 100ao, Conway 59*). PZ beat HK by 4 wkts. ISU surge to 2nd on 7pts. LQ drop to 5th (2-2). Fakhar ban over.
📁 Apr 6-7: MS crush RWP by 7 wkts (Farhan 68, Philippe 56, Akram 4/31). Naseem Shah ruled out (side strain). MS clear top on 8pts.
📁 Matches 9-13 (Apr 2-5): Fakhar ban confirmed (appeal dismissed). ISU win 2 straight (Minhas 82*, 70). LQ beat MS without Fakhar (Naeem 60, rain-reduced). KK stay unbeaten 3/3 (Azam Khan 74). MS beat QG (Smith 53, Nawaz 3/30).
📁 Apr 2 update: Fakhar Zaman banned 2 matches. MS beat HK (Farhan 106*). IU vs PZ washed out. KK shortened to 4.33. IU @ 7.50 best value.
📁 March 30 update: KK beat LQ by 4 wkts (Match 6) amid ball tampering controversy: Fakhar scuffed ball, 5 penalty runs awarded. QG beat HK by 40 runs (Match 5, Abrar 3/23). LQ odds drifted from 2.96 to 4.50.
🏏 March 29: Matches 3 & 4
🏆 PZ chase 215 vs Rawalpindi (Match 3): Highest successful chase in PSL history at Gaddafi Stadium. Mohammad Haris 47, Babar Azam 39, Bracewell 35*. PZ win by 5 wickets.
🏆 MS beat IU (Match 4): Josh Philippe 55, Ashton Turner 43* led the chase of 172. Australians starring for the new franchise.
📊 March 27: PSL 2026 Is Underway
🏏 Lahore win opener by 69 runs: Fakhar Zaman 53(39) led the way as Lahore posted 199/6 and bowled out Hyderabad Kingsmen for 130. Haris Rauf 2/22, Sikandar Raza 2/27. Defending champions start strong.
📊 Odds have shifted: Lahore now 5.50 (PartyCasino). Karachi Kings shortened to 6.00. Quetta and Islamabad both at 7.00. Hyderabad priced at 8.00, Rawalpindi (Pindiz) at 9.00.
🏥 Key injuries: Hussain Talat (Lahore): dislocated shoulder, out 12-14 weeks. Ali Shabbir (Lahore): fracture, 4-6 weeks. Max Bryant (Islamabad): ruled out, replaced by Chris Green. Zaman Khan (Rawalpindi): shoulder, replaced by Jalat Khan.
🔄 Replacements: Usman Khawaja joins Rawalpindi Pindiz (replacing Laurie Evans). Maheesh Theekshana and Kusal Perera added to Hyderabad squad. Chris Green in for Max Bryant at Islamabad.
⚠️ IPL poaching: Muzarabani withdrew from Islamabad United to join KKR in IPL (₹75 lakh base price, but a 106% raise over his PSL contract). Spencer Johnson left Quetta for CSK. PCB considering legal action. PSL-IPL overlap creating player tension.
📁 Earlier updates (Mar 19 & before): Australian travel advisory resolved, with all 14 Aussie players participating. Auction completed Feb 11 (first-ever PSL auction). Muzarabani withdrew from IU to join KKR (IPL). Spencer Johnson left QG for CSK. Full pre-tournament details in team cards below.
How to Use This Guide
The first-ever PSL auction was held on February 11, and squads were finalised there. This section explains the method behind our PSL winner prediction: how we turned each squad into a win probability, and the trigger price at which backing that team was worth it.
How Our Trigger Prices Work
1. We calculate each team's WIN PROBABILITY based on title history, squad strength, and form
2. From that, we derive FAIR ODDS (100 ÷ probability)
3. The TRIGGER PRICE adds an 8% buffer for value
Example: Lahore Qalandars
30%
Our Probability
3.33
Fair Odds
3.60+
Trigger Price
We tracked those trigger prices against live bookmaker odds all season. Every PSL winner prediction call we made is recorded below, along with how it finished.
Our Probability Model: All 8 Teams
Win probabilities vs actual bookmaker odds. Green indicates value bets where our model exceeds market pricing.
| Team | Win Prob | Fair Odds | Market Odds | Edge | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peshawar Zalmi | 48% | 2.08 | 1.90-2.30 | -9% to +10% | 🎯 PRIMARY PICK (top seed, two paths to the final) |
| Islamabad United | 24% | 4.17 | 3.00-3.75 | -28% to -10% | Priced (#2 seed, NRR +1.667 — pre-tournament 7.50 call closed CLV+) |
| Multan Sultans | 18% | 5.56 | 5.00-7.00 | -10% to +26% | Outsider value (#3 seed, four-time PSL finalists) |
| Lahore Qalandars | 0% | — | N/A | N/A | Eliminated (5-5, NRR -0.482 — title defence over) |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 10% | 10.00 | 8.00-12.00 | -17% to +25% | Dark horse (#4 seed, debut franchise's first-ever PSL playoff) |
| Karachi Kings | 0% | — | N/A | N/A | Eliminated (5-5, NRR -0.869 — missed top-4 on net run rate) |
| Quetta Gladiators | 0% | — | N/A | N/A | Eliminated (3-7, 6pts) |
| Rawalpindi Pindiz | 0% | — | 200+ | N/A | Eliminated (1-9, 2pts, bottom) |
Odds as of April 27, 2026 (league phase complete, playoff bracket locked). Peshawar Zalmi 8-1-1, NRR +2.324: outright favourite at 1.90-2.30 as #1 seed with two paths to the final. Islamabad United 6-3-1 (NRR +1.667) shortened to 3.00-3.75 as #2 seed. Multan Sultans 6-4 (NRR +0.326) at 5.00-7.00 as #3 seed dropped into Eliminator 1. Hyderabad Kingsmen 5-5 (NRR -0.361) at 8.00-12.00, the debut franchise dark horse. Defending champions Lahore Qalandars eliminated. The pre-tournament ISU @ 7.50 call closed CLV+. Hyderabad Kingsmen, the 10.00+ dark horse, went on to reach the final before Peshawar Zalmi took the title.
Best PSL Betting Sites
These bookmakers priced the PSL 2026 outright markets. That season is settled; the same books will price PSL 12 when it opens.
Our Recommendations
Every PSL winner prediction call we published, and how each one settled. Nothing below is live advice: PSL 2026 finished on 3 May and all these markets are closed.
Our Pick
Peshawar Zalmi
48%
Win Prob
2.08
Fair Odds
1.90-2.30
Market Range
Topped the league at 8-1-1, NRR +2.324, the only side undefeated in regulation. Locked into the #1 seed and Qualifier 1 on 28 April at Karachi vs Islamabad. The winner went direct to the final, the loser dropped to Q2. Two paths to the final made PZ structurally favoured even before talent was priced in. Babar scored two centuries in PSL 2026 including a rapid 52-ball hundred. Mendis ended Green Cap at 500 runs, Moqim maroon cap at 19 wickets. At 2.30 (top of bookmaker range) the edge was roughly +10%; 1.90 was meaningfully short. We rated 2.20+ the value, and Peshawar Zalmi went on to win the title.
Closed: Rec Achieved
Islamabad United @ 7.50 → 4.50
CLV+
Result
24%
Updated Prob
3.00-3.75
Today's Odds
Pre-tournament call at 7.50 was validated and closed. Islamabad finished 6-3-1 at 13pts (NRR +1.667) as the #2 seed, and the market shortened them all the way to 3.00-3.75, further than our model predicted. The call therefore closed with positive closing-line value. Islamabad were then knocked out in the playoffs, so the outright itself did not land: right on the price, wrong on the result.
Closed: Underperformed
Lahore Qalandars @ 5.00
CLV-
Result
7%
Updated Prob
12-15
Today's Range
Pre-tournament call at 5.00 did not play out. LQ finished 5-5 (NRR -0.482) and missed the top-4 by 0.121 on net run rate. Title defence over. Updated model at 0%. Negative closing-line value, position closed.
Fade
Hyderabad & Multan Sultans (New)
4%
Combined
50+
Min Trigger (archived)
New franchises historically struggle. Zero retained players. Untested management. Late draft picks. Gujarat Titans (IPL 2022) are the rare exception. We rated them no-bets under 50.00 for Hyderabad and 80.00 for Multan Sultans. Both beat the base rate: Multan finished 3rd and Hyderabad reached the final as runners-up, so this fade was our worst read of the season.
Trigger prices calculated as fair odds × 1.08 to ensure minimum 8% expected value. Learn more about value betting in our guide.
Team-by-Team Analysis
Lahore Qalandars
ELIMINATEDDefending Champions
Defending champions eliminated: finished 5-5 (NRR -0.482), missed top-4 by 0.121 on net run rate.
Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi, only player to captain 3 PSL title wins
2025 Final: Chased 202 vs Quetta with 1 ball to spare. Kusal Perera 62* (31). Shaheen 3/24.
Retained: Shaheen Afridi (Rs 7 Cr), Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique
Auction buys: Fakhar Zaman (Rs 7.95 Cr), Haris Rauf (Rs 7.6 Cr), Usama Mir, Mohammad Hasnain
Direct signing: Mustafizur Rahman
Trigger (archived): we rated 3.60+ the backing price. Lahore missed the top four, so the call lost.
Risk: Target of every team. Heavy workload on Shaheen across formats.
Islamabad United
24% WIN PROB3x Champions
2nd seed at 6-3-1, NRR +1.667. Played Peshawar in Qualifier 1 at Karachi on 28 April.
Captain: Shadab Khan, leg-spin all-rounder and proven leader
Titles: 2016 (inaugural), 2018 and 2024, joint most with Lahore
Retained: Shadab Khan (Rs 7 Cr), Andries Gous, Salman Irshad
Auction buys: Faheem Ashraf (Rs 8.5 Cr), Mark Chapman, Mehran Mumtaz
Direct signing: Devon Conway. The NZ World Cup star adds reliable top-order batting
Squad changes: Released Shamar Joseph (Feb 12). Signed Muzarabani, but he withdrew (Mar 13) to join KKR at ₹75 lakh, with PCB considering legal action. Max Bryant was also ruled out (injury) and replaced by Chris Green. Now relying on Gleeson and Imad Wasim. Pace depth is thin.
Closing odds: 3.00-3.75. The market shortened from 7.50 all the way to ~3.30 after IU finished 2nd seed at 13pts. Against our updated 24% model that was a negative-edge price, so no new stake was added. The pre-tournament call closed for positive closing-line value.
Outcome: Pre-tournament rec at 7.50 closed CLV+, with no new stake added. Islamabad went out in the playoffs, so the outright did not land.
How it played out: Lost Muzarabani to IPL and Max Bryant to injury earlier in the season, leaving two replacements deep in a reshuffled squad. By the playoffs the market had caught up, and at 3.00-3.75 there was no pricing edge left. Islamabad were knocked out in the playoff bracket.
Quetta Gladiators
ELIMINATED2025 Finalists
Eliminated. Finished 3-7, 6 points, 7th place.
Retained: Abrar Ahmed (Rs 7 Cr), Usman Tariq, Hassan Nawaz
Direct signing: Alzarri Joseph (West Indies), replacing Spencer Johnson who withdrew for personal reasons
Auction buys: Rilee Rossouw, Tom Curran (ENG, all-rounder), Shamyl Hussain
2025 run: Reached final after several poor seasons. Hassan Nawaz (76 in final) was standout.
Outcome: Pre-tournament dark horse call retired. No live value at any price. The playoff path required a sweep.
Risk: 2025 final loss may affect confidence. Still rebuilding.
Rawalpindi
0% WIN PROBReplaces Multan Sultans
Finished bottom at 1-9, 2 points. Inaugural season under the rebrand has been a struggle.
Captain: Mohammad Rizwan (retained, Rs 5.6 Cr), Pakistan's Mr. Consistent
Context: Multan Sultans rebranded to Rawalpindi after ownership change. Rizwan stays as the franchise's core player.
Key auction buys: Naseem Shah (Rs 8.65 Cr, most expensive at auction), Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir
Retained: Rizwan, Sam Billings
🏥 Naseem Shah update: Recovered from the side strain that ruled him out earlier in the season, returned briefly on 23 April vs ISU and bowled two overs before twisting his knee while fielding. Stretchered off; status unconfirmed at time of writing. Their most expensive signing has now had two separate injury setbacks in PSL 2026.
Outcome: Mathematically eliminated. No bet at any price.
Result: 1-9, bottom of the table on 2 points. The inaugural season under the Rawalpindi rebrand produced a single win. Focus shifts to building for PSL 12.
Peshawar Zalmi
48% WIN PROB2017 Champions
Topped the league at 8-1-1, 17pts, NRR +2.324, the only side undefeated in regulation.
Captain: Babar Azam, world-class batter and Pakistan captain
Retained: Babar Azam (Rs 7 Cr), Sufyan Moqim, Abdul Samad
Direct signing: Aaron Hardie (Australia), all-rounder
Auction buys: Iftikhar Ahmed, Kusal Mendis, James Vince, Michael Bracewell
2025: 5th place. Struggled for consistency.
Outcome: Our primary pick, rated at 2.20+ against a market of 1.90-2.30. Peshawar won the title, so the call landed.
Risk: Playoff variance. Even the #1 seed can lose Q1, then Q2, then Final. The model accounts for this with a 48% title probability despite the 8-1-1 league record. The form is real but the knockout format is unforgiving.
Karachi Kings
ELIMINATED2020 Champions
Eliminated. Finished 5-5 (NRR -0.869), 6th place — missed top-4 on net run rate.
Retained: Hassan Ali (Rs 4.76 Cr), Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi
Auction buys: David Warner (Rs 7.9 Cr), Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Adam Zampa
Direct signing: Moeen Ali
Note: Saim Ayub moved to Hyderabad. Warner and Moeen bring international experience.
Outcome: Called as an outsider for the top four. No live value call was made, and Karachi finished outside the playoffs.
Risk: Squad needs overhaul. Warner alone can't fix structural issues.
New Franchises: Hyderabad Kingsmen & Multan Sultans (new franchise)
Two new teams join PSL for the first time in 2026. Squads finalised via the February 11 auction.
Hyderabad Kingsmen
Owner: FKS Group (Fawad Sarwar)
- • Retained: Saim Ayub (Rs 12.6 Cr — highest retention), Usman Khan
- • Direct signing: Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
- • Auction buys: Kusal Perera, Irfan Khan Niazi, Riley Meredith
- • Captain: Marnus Labuschagne (appointed March 2026)
- • Star power: Saim Ayub is Pakistan's most exciting young batter. Labuschagne adds class.
Win Prob: 10% | Final state: 5-5 (10pts, NRR -0.361, #4 seed). Sealed the last playoff spot with a 108-run thrashing of Rawalpindi on 26 April (Maxwell 70 off 37). First ever PSL playoff appearance.
Multan Sultans (new franchise)
Owner: CD Ventures (Gohar Shah) — rebranded from Sialkot Stallionz
- • Retained: Mohammad Nawaz (Rs 6.16 Cr), Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal
- • Direct signing: Steve Smith (Australia) — massive marquee
- • Captain: Ashton Turner (Australia, PKR 4.2 Cr)
- • Auction buys: Josh Philippe, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi
- • Coach: Tim Paine (head coach)
- • Analysis: Strong Aussie contingent. Smith and Turner bring international experience. Shamsi + Nawaz give a strong spin pairing.
Win Prob: 18% | Final state: 6-4 (12pts, NRR +0.326, #3 seed). Lost final two league games (HK on 22 Apr, IU on 26 Apr) — dropped from 2nd to 3rd into Eliminator 1. Played HK at Gaddafi on 29 April. Market was 5.00-7.00.
Update on the new-franchise thesis:
Our pre-tournament view was bearish — most new T20 franchises struggle in year one. Both new franchises beat the curse: Multan Sultans (new ownership) finished 3rd at 6-4 with playoff pedigree intact, and Hyderabad Kingsmen sealed 4th at 5-5 in their debut season. MS dropped from 2nd to 3rd after losing the last two league games (HK on 22 Apr, IU on 26 Apr). HK qualified with a 108-run thrashing of Rawalpindi on 26 April. The takeaway: rosters with strong international backbones and experienced captains (Turner / Smith / Masood for MS, Labuschagne / Maxwell for HK) outperformed the historical baseline. Both went into Eliminator 1 at Gaddafi on 29 April. Hyderabad Kingsmen came through the bracket to finish runners-up; Multan Sultans went out.
The Dew Factor: Why Chasing Wins in Pakistan
Understanding Pakistan’s unique conditions matters for PSL betting.
The data: Chasing teams win ~65% of night matches at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (PSL’s primary venue with 15 of 44 matches).
Why it matters:
- Heavy evening dew sets in during the second innings
- Ball becomes slippery, bowlers cannot grip it
- Spinners become ineffective
- Batting becomes significantly easier
Betting implication: Teams that win the toss overwhelmingly choose to bowl first. Chasing strength was therefore a real input into our PSL winner prediction, not a footnote to it.
Best chasers: Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars have the best chase records. This is a key factor in their championship success.
Auction Recap: February 11, 2026
The first-ever PSL auction replaced the draft system used since 2016. Key takeaways:
Format: Each franchise had a purse of Rs 450 million (extendable to Rs 505 million for one direct overseas signing). Teams retained 3-4 players before entering the auction.
Most expensive buys:
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Naseem Shah | Rawalpindi | Rs 8.65 Cr |
| Faheem Ashraf | Islamabad United | Rs 8.5 Cr |
| Fakhar Zaman | Lahore Qalandars | Rs 7.95 Cr |
| David Warner | Karachi Kings | Rs 7.9 Cr |
| Haris Rauf | Lahore Qalandars | Rs 7.6 Cr |
Key direct signings: Mustafizur Rahman (Lahore), Devon Conway (Islamabad), Steve Smith (Multan Sultans), Glenn Maxwell (Hyderabad), Moeen Ali (Karachi), Alzarri Joseph (Quetta — replaced Spencer Johnson who withdrew), Aaron Hardie (Peshawar).
Biggest surprise: Saim Ayub (Pakistan’s hottest young talent) was retained by Hyderabad Kingsmen for Rs 12.6 Cr, the highest retention in PSL history. Many expected him to stay at Karachi.
Odds when markets opened: Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators were joint favourites at 3.75, ahead of pre-tournament favourites Lahore Qalandars. The auction had moved the market. Peshawar Zalmi, the eventual champions, were priced longer than that at the time.
PSL 2026 Title History
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lahore Qalandars | Quetta Gladiators | Lahore |
| 2024 | Islamabad United | Multan Sultans | Karachi |
| 2023 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Lahore |
| 2022 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Lahore |
| 2021 | Multan Sultans | Peshawar Zalmi | Abu Dhabi |
| 2020 | Karachi Kings | Lahore Qalandars | Karachi |
| 2019 | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi | Karachi |
| 2018 | Islamabad United | Peshawar Zalmi | Karachi |
| 2017 | Peshawar Zalmi | Quetta Gladiators | Lahore |
| 2016 | Islamabad United | Quetta Gladiators | Dubai |
Key insight: Only Lahore Qalandars have won back-to-back titles (2022-23). They’re the form team of modern PSL. For the latest PSL news and analysis on Wisden, including auction reactions and squad assessments.
PSL 2026 Predictions FAQ
Who won PSL 2026?
Peshawar Zalmi won PSL 2026, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 3 May 2026. HK posted 129 all out in 18 overs (Saim Ayub 54); PZ chased 130 in 15.2 overs (Aaron Hardie 56*, Abdul Samad 48). It was Peshawar Zalmi's 2nd PSL title and their first since 2017 — ending a nine-year trophy drought. Aaron Hardie was Player of the Match (4/27 and 56*); Sufyan Moqim was Player of the Tournament. Babar Azam took the orange cap (588 runs); Sufyan Moqim took the purple cap (22 wickets). Our pre-final probability model had Peshawar at 48% — the only team we tipped above 25%, validating the call.
Were the PSL 2026 betting markets accurate?
Mixed. Peshawar Zalmi were the closing favourites at 1.90-2.30 and won the title — markets read PZ correctly. Islamabad United shortened from a pre-tournament 7.50 down to 3.00-3.75 as the #2 seed but went out at the playoff stage. Hyderabad Kingsmen were a 8.00-12.00 outsider going into the playoffs and made the final in their debut season — the biggest market miss of the tournament. Our pre-tournament ISU @ 7.50 call closed CLV+; the playoff-stage HK call (10.00+ for upset upside) hit a runner-up finish but no title. Tournament concluded May 3.
What happened to Lahore Qalandars's title defence?
Lahore's title defence ended at the league stage. They finished 5-5 (10pts, NRR -0.482) and missed the top-4 cut on net run rate — Hyderabad Kingsmen took the 4th seed at NRR -0.361. The defending champions' final-day chase of Peshawar at Gaddafi (Bracewell 83, Babar 59) brought them level on points with HK and KK but the NRR math left them outside. The trophy passed to Peshawar Zalmi, who beat HK in the final by 5 wickets on 3 May.
How did the new franchises Hyderabad and Multan Sultans perform?
Hyderabad Kingsmen had a remarkable debut season — qualified 4th, then advanced through the eliminator bracket all the way to the final. They lost the title decider to Peshawar Zalmi by 5 wickets, with Saim Ayub top-scoring 54 in the final. Best debut-franchise run in PSL history, runners-up in year one. Multan Sultans finished 3rd in the league phase (6-4, 12pts) but were knocked out in the eliminator bracket by HK. Both new franchises beat market expectations going into the tournament.
How many teams are in PSL 2026?
PSL 11 expands to 8 teams for the first time. Two new franchises: Hyderabad Kingsmen (FKS Group) and Multan Sultans (new franchise) (new ownership consortium). Rawalpindi replaces Multan Sultans after an ownership change.
When did PSL 2026 run?
PSL 2026 ran March 26 to May 3, 2026, concluding with the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. 44 matches were played across 6 venues: Lahore (15), Rawalpindi (11), Faisalabad (7), Karachi (6), Multan (4), and Peshawar (1). Peshawar Zalmi won the title — their second PSL championship and first since 2017.
Which teams have won PSL titles?
Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United lead with 3 titles each. Peshawar Zalmi have 2 titles (2017 and 2026). Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans have 1 title each. Only Lahore have won back-to-back (2022-23). PSL 2026 ended a nine-year trophy drought for Peshawar Zalmi.
What happened to Multan Sultans?
Multan Sultans have been replaced by Rawalpindi for PSL 2026 following an ownership change. Mohammad Rizwan remains as captain of the Rawalpindi franchise. Naseem Shah was the most expensive buy at the Feb 11 auction (Rs 8.65 Cr).
Our Prediction
Peshawar Zalmi to Win PSL 2026
Topped the league at 8-1-1, NRR +2.324, and went into Qualifier 1 on 28 April against Islamabad as the #1 seed with two paths to the final. We rated 2.20 or better the value against our 48% model. Peshawar Zalmi won the title, so the call landed.
48%
Win Prob
2.08
Fair Odds
2.20+
Rated At
May 3
Final Date
Summary
- ● Primary: Peshawar Zalmi — #1 seed, model 48% vs market 1.90-2.30. Our top pick, and they won the title.
- ● Closed Position: Pre-tournament ISU @ 7.50 call closed (CLV+) — market shortened all the way to 3.00-3.75 after IU sealed the #2 seed at 13pts.
- ● Surprise of the Season: Multan Sultans (new franchise) finished 3rd at 6-4 (12pts), beating the new-franchise base rate before going out in the eliminator bracket.
- ● Avoid: Rawalpindi Pindiz finished bottom at 1-9 (2pts). Quetta Gladiators finished 3-7 (6pts). Of the bubble three, only Hyderabad Kingsmen reached the playoffs; Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings finished level on 10 points and missed out on net run rate.
- ● Tournament: March 26 – May 3, 2026 | 8 teams | 44 matches
PSL 2026 is complete. This page is the closed record of our PSL winner prediction: every call we made, the odds we took it at, and how each one finished.
Individual match analysis for every PSL game
🏏 PSL Player Impact Index →AI ratings — which players actually shift win probability
🏏 IPL 2026 Winner Prediction →10 team analysis, title probabilities, value bets
Final update 24 July 2026. This PSL winner prediction page is now a closed record: PSL 2026 ended on 3 May with Peshawar Zalmi beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by 5 wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium for their second title. All odds shown on this page are historical and are no longer available to back. Betting involves risk. Please gamble responsibly. For more on betting legality in India, see our legal guide.