Sufiyan Muqeem topped the PSL bowling charts with 13 wickets in five matches for Peshawar Zalmi. Babar Azam and Azhar Ali praised the left-arm wrist spinner after his winning spell against Multan Sultans.
KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi spinner Sufiyan Muqeem has emerged as one of the standout players of the ongoing Pakistan HBL Super League season, playing a pivotal role in his team’s unbeaten run so far.
Captain Babar Azam has regularly brought the left-arm wrist spinner into the attack during the middle overs, and has responded with frequent breakthroughs. In five PSL matches, the 23-year-old took 13 wickets, averaging just under 10 and conceded 6.45 runs per over, putting him at the top of the bowling charts.
His last influential outing came on Monday night at the National Bank Stadium, where he returned figures of 3-30 in Peshawar Zalmi’s 24-run win over Multan Sultans. Multan was chasing 197 and looked calm at different stages of the innings, but Sufiyan’s control and variation shifted the momentum in Zalmi’s favour. He dismissed important batsmen, including Josh Philippe and Ashton Turner, as the required rate increased.
Sufiyan’s performances this season come after he lost his place in the Pakistan team despite having made an encouraging start in international cricket two years ago. He claimed eight wickets in four one-day internationals at an average of 22.75, while in 19 T20 internationals he took 27 wickets at 14.74. He was later left out when the selectors moved in the other direction, forcing the spinner to regroup.
Babar Azam praised the bowler after the Multan match and said he trusted him to deliver key wickets. “Every time I give him the ball as a captain, I am confident that he will get me a wicket somewhere,” Babar said after the Multan match. “When he goes for the kill, he is not a player who gets hit easily. In my opinion, he is a big asset for Pakistan and in the future, he will be a big help to them with their bowling.”
The Zalmi captain also said that the spinner was still developing and remained eager to improve. “Talk to the coaches. After every game, ask, ‘Where can I do better?'” Babar said.
Zalmi’s fielding coach Azhar Ali also highlighted the difficulty of left-arm wrist spin and credited Sufiyan for the control and temperament he has shown in the format. “The left arm wrist spin is quite rare and it is difficult to bowl accurately. The way he has bowled with control and temperament is impressive because in T20 cricket the best batsmen chase you and you have to be brave and he has been brave,” Azhar said.
Sufiyan’s journey in cricket started in stick-on cricket in Azad Jammu and Kashmir before moving on to structured cricket in Rawalpindi. His performances at home eventually earned him a place in the national team. While his early T20I performances suggested significant promise, competition for places meant that even brief dips in form could prove costly.
For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan’s contribution extends beyond the number of wickets. In a bowling unit that also includes the pace of Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, he has added control and variation. As the tournament enters a decisive phase, Zalmi have managed to maintain their momentum throughout an undefeated campaign, and Sufiyan played an important role in that run.
