Under the captaincy of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Lahore Qalandars clinched the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title on Sunday night, defeating Quetta Gladiators, led by Saud Shakeel, by six wickets with one ball to spare in a thrilling final match at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Sports News: The Pakistan Super League 2025 final, played Sunday night at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, treated cricket fans to a spectacle they will remember for years to come. Lahore Qalandars secured their third PSL trophy, defeating Quetta Gladiators with a ball to spare by six wickets. The biggest story of this victory was Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza, whose journey to the match was nothing short of a movie script.
Trent Bridge to Gaddafi: One Day, Two Countries, Two Performances
On May 24th, Sikandar Raza played a magnificent 60-run innings for Zimbabwe against England in a Test match at Trent Bridge. The very next morning, May 25th, he was playing in the PSL final in Pakistan. Reports indicate Raza arrived in Pakistan just 10 minutes before the PSL final toss, going straight from the airport to the Gaddafi Stadium. Showing no signs of fatigue, his performance on the field thrilled cricket fans.
Bowling Prowess, Batting Blitz
Raza initially bowled four overs for Lahore, conceding 43 runs and taking a crucial wicket. However, his real impact came with the bat. Chasing a challenging 202, Lahore found themselves under pressure when Raza came to bat at number six. With 3.2 overs remaining, 57 runs were needed.
Raza smashed an unbeaten 22 runs off just seven balls, including a boundary and a towering six off Mohammad Amir. He then hit another six and a four off Faheem in the final over, securing Lahore's victory with one ball remaining.
Match Thrills: Every Over a Story
Quetta Gladiators, batting first, posted 201 runs. Saud Shakeel's captaincy led Quetta to a b score, but Shaheen Shah Afridi's Lahore Qalandars never gave up. At one point, Lahore was comfortably placed at 115-2 in the 13th over, but the run rate slowed after Abdullah Shafique (41) was dismissed. Kusal Perera then accelerated the scoring rate with two sixes and a four, setting the stage for Raza's explosive climax.
Lahore's Third PSL Crown
This historic victory marks Lahore Qalandars' third PSL title, having previously won in 2022 and 2023. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi's astute leadership and the players' outstanding performances once again propelled Lahore to the summit. No batsman had ever played such a rapid innings during a successful run chase in a PSL final.
Raza's 22 runs off seven balls ranks as one of the fastest and most decisive innings in PSL final history. Cricket experts believe this was one of those rare moments where a player's fighting spirit changed the team's destiny.
