The Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi team registered a thrilling two-run victory over Karachi Kings in the second match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 on Tuesday (February 14).

Babar, who faced the Kings for the first time after leaving the side last year, slammed 68 off 46 balls while Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 50-ball 92 as Zalmi racked up 199/5 on the board.

In reply, the Kings fell just two runs short of the target as half-centuries from Imad Wasim (80*) and Shoaib Malik (52) went in vain.

Apart from the nail-biting contest, the match also grabbed the headlines for an epic duel between Babar and Karachi pacer Mohammad Amir.

During the sixth over of Zalmi’s innings, Amir bowled a delivery down the leg side and Babar flicked the ball away to the boundary.

On the next delivery, Babar played a defensive shot straight at Amir and the left-arm pacer vented out his frustration by throwing the ball towards the keeper.

After the game, veteran Karachi Kings batter Shoaib Malik spoke in detail about the incident. When asked if Amir should have kept his composure, Malik stated that there is mutual respect between all the players.

“(I believe) the respect element shouldn't be missing. I've seen Babar, Amir, Imad... whenever they meet, they greet each other with respect,” Malik said in the post-match press conference.

"In this room, you won't be compatible in the same way with everyone. Some would gel up well, you'd like some and you might not like some others. But that would only be on professional basis. I'm sure you all respect each other too.

“It's good for the league. Once you enter the league, you need to focus on what encourages you to deliver your best. But we know no one crosses the line,” he explained.