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 and etch their name alongside Islamabad United as the only teams to achieve the feat.
Batting second in pursuit of 202, Lahore’s chase was marked by timely contributions from Mohammad Naeem (47 off 27), Abdullah Shafique (41 off 28), and Kusal Perera, who anchored the innings with a composed half-century.
Sikandar Raza delivered the finishing blow, smashing a four and a six in the final over to seal the win with just one ball to spare.
The victory was lauded across cricketing circles. Legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis celebrated the franchise’s consistency, tweeting: “3 Trophies in 4 years. Simply WOW.”
Former pacer Junaid Khan applauded the finish: “Way to finish, wonderfully done. Congratulations Lahore Qalandars. Entertaining match of cricket, both teams fought till the end.”
Journalist Abu Bakar Tarar echoed the sentiments, saying: “What a final, what a performance, Qalandars once again.”
Quetta, after opting to bat, posted 201/9 with Hasan Nawaz’s 76 off 43 and Faheem Ashraf’s explosive 28 off just 8 balls lifting them past the 200 mark.
Lahore’s skipper Shaheen Afridi was instrumental, taking three crucial wickets, including a double strike in the 18th over that halted Quetta’s momentum.
Despite resistance from Quetta’s bowlers, Perera’s 50 and Raza’s late heroics proved decisive. Raza’s calculated aggression turned the tide in Lahore’s favour during the death overs.
National team pacer Shahnawaz Dahani summed it up aptly: “What a Final, & what a win for Lahore Qalandars.”
This victory not only marks Lahore’s third championship (2020, 2022, 2025) but also cements their dominance in the PSL’s recent history.
