Babar Azam, who leads the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), scored the most runs for his team in a match against the Hyderabad Kingsmen, scoring 43 off 37 balls. Despite settling in and chasing a target of 146 runs, Babar was unable to dig deep and lead the run chase to the finish. When he failed to turn a good start into a large score yet again, a reporter enquired about his failure to 'finish games'. The reporter also made similarities between Babar and Virat Kohli, implying that the latter always ends games for his team. Babar was not pleased.

During the post-match press conference, a reporter asked Babar about parallels to Kohli, particularly his finishing abilities. Babar dismissed the notion as a "misconception".
Reporter: "Virat Kohli has the same shot at the game as you, but he finishes the match, while you don't. People relate him to you; what are your thoughts on the comparison?
Babar Azam says, "Finish these items. Keep these things to yourself. Finish the comparison and move on. It is your misperception that I have not completed matches.

Despite being recognised as one of Pakistan's most prominent cricketers, Babar Azam has frequently faced criticism, particularly in the shorter format. Babar has frequently been a prime target for detractors, whether because of his strike rate or his inability to bear the responsibility of chasing large totals.
Babar has played two matches in the Pakistan Super League this season, scoring 82 runs with a strike rate of 126.15. His boundary count has been rather dismal, with only 10 fours and one six.