Lahore Qalandars emerged victorious in a nail-biting Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 final, defeating Quetta Gladiators to claim their third title in four years. This achievement places them alongside Islamabad United as the only franchises to accomplish such a feat. Chasing a target of 202, Lahore’s innings was propelled by crucial contributions from Mohammad Naeem (47 off 27 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (41 off 28 balls), while Kusal Perera provided a composed half-century to anchor the chase.
Sikandar Raza delivered the decisive blow, hitting a four and a six in the very last over to secure the win with just one ball to spare. The victory garnered widespread acclaim across cricketing circles. Legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis lauded the franchise’s consistent performance, tweeting: “3 Trophies in 4 years. Simply WOW.” Former pacer Junaid Khan applauded the thrilling finish: “Way to finish, wonderfully done. Congratulations Lahore Qalandars. Entertaining match of cricket, both teams fought till the end.” Journalist Abu Bakar Tarar echoed these sentiments, stating: “What a final, what a performance, Qalandars once again.”
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Quetta posted a formidable total of 201/9, with Hasan Nawaz’s explosive 76 off 43 balls and Faheem Ashraf’s quickfire 28 off just 8 balls boosting them past the 200-run mark. Lahore’s captain, Shaheen Afridi, was instrumental in their bowling effort, taking three crucial wickets, including a double strike in the 18th over that significantly disrupted Quetta’s momentum. Despite resilient efforts from Quetta’s bowlers, Perera’s half-century and Raza’s late-game heroics proved to be the deciding factors. Raza’s well-calculated aggression effectively swung the momentum in Lahore’s favor during the crucial death overs.
National team pacer Shahnawaz Dahani perfectly summarized the sentiment: “What a Final, & what a win for Lahore Qalandars.” This triumph not only signifies Lahore’s third championship (following wins in 2020 and 2022, and now 2025) but also solidifies their dominant position in the recent history of the PSL.
