Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE international Brian Bennett may not have featured on the field during the just-ended Pakistan Super League, but the young cricketer still emerged a quiet winner after being part of the triumphant Peshawar Zalmi squad that lifted this year’s title.
In what was his first franchise cricket experience, Bennett had to settle for a watching role as Zalmi powered their way to glory.
Australia all-rounder Aaron Hardie starred with bat and ball as Peshawar Zalmi beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets to win their second Pakistan Super League title.
Bennett was not involved the entire tournament.
The 22-year-old all-rounder joined the franchise as a partial replacement player following his standout performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he was the sixth-highest run-scorer.
Despite not getting a game, the exposure to elite-level competition and the opportunity to share a dressing room with some of the biggest names in world cricket marked a significant step in his career.
Chief among those was Pakistan captain Babar Azam, whose presence in the Zalmi ranks offered Bennett a priceless learning environment.
For a player still carving his path on the international stage, rubbing shoulders with such accomplished professionals provided insights that go beyond match-day performances – from preparation and professionalism to handling pressure in high-stakes competitions.
Bennett’s PSL experience came in the same week he received another major boost in his career after breaking into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20I batting rankings top 10 for the first time.
The milestone underlines his growing stature in the shortest format and signals Zimbabwe’s emergence of a new batting force.
Fellow Zimbabwean Ryan Burl also featured in the PSL, turning out for Lahore Qalandars where he contributed in a handful of cameo appearances. Burl only featured in two matches and had a suppressed performance with both bat and ball.
More game time came for experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who was involved throughout the tournament for Qalandars. However, his team endured a difficult campaign and failed to replicate the consistency needed to challenge for top honours.
Raza’s performances, though, continued to underline his importance as one of Zimbabwe’s leading franchise players, having become a regular figure across global T20 leagues.
For Bennett, the PSL journey represents a beginning rather than a missed opportunity. Many of the game’s leading stars have had to wait for their moment in franchise cricket, and his inclusion in a title-winning squad will only sharpen his hunger.
As Zimbabwe cricket continues to produce talent capable of competing globally, Bennett’s quiet but meaningful PSL chapter could yet prove to be the foundation of a much louder future.
Zimbabwe will host India for a T20I series in July and then Australia in September for a three-match ODI series, marking Australia’s first ODI visit in over a decade.
The matches, scheduled for September 15, 18, and 20, 2026, are crucial for Zimbabwe’s preparation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
