Shaheen sets PSL record with third title

Lahore Qalandars secured a thrilling victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 final held at Gaddafi Stadium last week. In an intense showdown, the Qalandars defeated Quetta Gladiators by six wickets, capping off a remarkable season with their third title in four years-placing them alongside Islamabad United as the most successful teams in PSL history.

The final saw Lahore Qalandars make history by achieving the highest successful run chase in any T20 final, a landmark moment as they successfully chased a target exceeding 200 runs.

Traditionally, chasing in a PSL final has been challenging, with the previous record for the highest successful chase being 175, set in the inaugural PSL final.

Skipper Shaheen Afridi further cemented his legacy by winning his third PSL title. The 25-year-old left-arm pacer previously led Lahore to consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023. With this victory, Afridi became the most successful captain in PSL history, surpassing peers who have each secured only one title.

The victory also brought significant financial rewards, with Lahore Qalandars claiming the PSL trophy and a cash prize of USD 500,000 (over PKR 140 million), while runners-up Quetta Gladiators received USD 200,000 (approximately PKR 56 million). Quetta had been optimistic about a second PSL crown, having first won the league six years prior.

Since the inception of PSL in 2016, Lahore and Quetta have faced off 19 times, with Lahore holding a slight edge at 10 wins to Quetta’s 9. Although Quetta has only secured one PSL title in 2019, they have demonstrated consistent form this season, leading the league table with 15 points-seven wins, two losses, and one no result.

A standout moment in the final was Sikandar Raza’s incredible contribution. Arriving in Pakistan just ten minutes before the toss after a demanding schedule-having played a test match in

England, traveled across multiple countries, and completed numerous overs-the Zimbabwean all-rounder made a significant impact. Despite the logistical hurdles, Raza’s perseverance allowed him to both play and guide his team to victory, including hitting the winning runs with a six and a four in the final moments. Notably, his teammate Perera’s unbeaten 62 off 31 balls kept Lahore’s hopes alive during the chase.

Lahore Qalandars had contingency plans, preparing two squad lists-one with Sikandar Raza and another with Shakib Al Hasan-should Raza have been unable to arrive on time.

Remarkably, Raza changed multiple flights to ensure his participation, demonstrating his dedication. His whirlwind journey included bowling 25 overs the day before, batting over 20 overs the previous day, and traveling from Birmingham to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and finally Lahore-all culminating in a pivotal role in the final. He landed in Lahore around 6 PM on match day, bowled a few deliveries during warm-up, and immediately took the field to contribute to the victory.

Following the match, Sikandar Raza recounted his rigorous routine post-test, sharing that he dined in Birmingham, had breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi, and traveled across multiple countries before reaching Lahore. His motivation for returning so swiftly was driven by the team’s urgent need for his skills, despite his physical and mental exhaustion. His efforts and resilience ultimately played a key role in Lahore Qalandars’ triumphant campaign.

At the end of the PSL 10, leading performers of the event received awards in different categories.

The Player of the Final award went to Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera for his match-winning performance in the title clash.

Gladiators’ middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz received Player-of-the-Tournament at the PSL-10 awards ceremony held after the final. He also named Best Batter of the Tournament as he scored 399 runs in 10 innings, averaging 57.0 with a strike rate of 162.19. Islamabad United opener Sahibzada Farhan won the Hanif Mohammad Cap for finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 449 runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, captain of the three-time champions Qalandars, received the Fazal Mahmood Cap for claiming the most wickets (19) in the tournament.

Gladiators’ all-rounder Faheem Ashraf earned the Best All-Rounder award for his contributions with both bat and ball.

Qalandars’ rising star Mohammad Naeem was honored as the Emerging Player of the Tournament. He created history in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 against Quetta Gladiators in the final when he became the first player in the league’s 10-year history to hit six sixes in any PSL final innings.

In his debut PSL season, the right-handed batter proved his worth for Lahore Qalandars by scoring 315 runs in 12 matches at an average of 28.63 and a strike rate of 164.06, which included three half-centuries. He also scored a blazing 47 off just 27 deliveries.

Mohammad Haris, the wicketkeeper-batter from Peshawar Zalmi, was named Best Wicketkeeper of the Tournament.

Zalmi’s Abdul Samad received the Best Fielder of the Tournament award for his nine catches in just five matches.

Peshawar Zalmi was also recognised with the Spirit of Cricket Award for their sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

Asif Yaqoob declared umpire of the tournament.

Islamabad United’s Sahibzada Farhan was the most successful batsman of the PSL-10 with 449 runs in 12 matches, averaging 37.41 and a strike rate of 152.2 with the help of one hundred and three fifties.

Fakhar Zaman (439) of Lahore Qalandar is the only other one who scored over 400 runs in the tournament.

On the bowling side, Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken most 19 wickets in the event at an average of 16.42. Abrar Ahmed (QG), Hasan Ali (KK), Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi (KK) and Haris Rauf (LQ) are behind him with 17 wickets each.

Quetta Gladiators’ 263-3 against the Islamabad United in Rawalpindi was the highest innings total of the PSL 10th edition while Islamabad’s 251-5 vs Karachi Kings was the only other 250 plus score in the event.

Peshawar Zalmi’s 120 runs win over Multan Sultan in Rawalpindi was the largest margin of victory in the mega event. Quetta Gladiators’10-wicket win against Multan Sultan was the biggest win by wickets.

Starting in 2026, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will expand to include two new franchises, increasing the league to eight teams. This expansion aims to provide greater opportunities for emerging young players to showcase their talent and potentially earn selection for the national team.

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