Babar Azam lit up the National Bank Stadium on Sunday with an unbeaten century that sent fans, former players, and franchise owners flocking to social media.

 

Babar scored 100 off just 52 balls, his quickest century in PSL history, as Peshawar Zalmi posted 255 for 3 against Quetta Gladiators in the 29th match of PSL 11. The innings featured six boundaries and four sixes, and Babar finished with a strike rate above 190.

 

Babar faced just one dot ball across his entire innings, the first time a batter playing 50 or more deliveries in a T20 innings has done so with only a single dot.

 

Quetta's chase never got going. They were bowled out for 137 in 18.1 overs, handing Peshawar a 118-run victory.

 

Social media moved fast. PSL CEO Salman Naseer posted an Instagram story with the caption: "The power of Sadqa!"

 

The reference was not lost on fans. A week earlier, Naseer had posted a clip warding off the evil eye for Babar following Zalmi's previous win over Quetta, in which Babar anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71 off 51 balls. One fan replied: "Credit Salman Sahab lay Gaye century Ka 😄"

 

Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi kept it brief: "MASHAALLAH BABAR AZAM."

 

Multan Sultans former owner Ali Tareen wrote: "Reaching 250 without their main hitters even getting to bat! Amazing stuff from @PeshawarZalmi today 👏🏼👏🏼 And an incredible unbeaten 💯 from Babar Azam 👑"

 

Former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad called it a statement knock. "He dominated the spinners, played high risk shots with complete authority, and looked fearless throughout. This is a Babar without mental blocks, confident, aggressive, and in control," he wrote.