LAHORE – Lahore Qalandars have been crowned champions of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X, clinching their third title after a sensational record-breaking run-chase against Quetta Gladiators in an electrifying final at the Gaddafi Stadium. Kusal Perera’s explosive unbeaten half-century and Sikandar Raza’s stunning cameo, mere hours after playing a Test match in England, guided the Qalandars to a six-wicket victory with just one ball to spare.
Chasing a daunting target of 202 set by Quetta Gladiators, the Qalandars reached 204-4 in 19.5 overs, marking the highest successful chase in any T20 final worldwide. The Gladiators, batting first, posted a strong 201-9, largely thanks to a brilliant 76 off 43 balls from Player of the Tournament Hasan Nawaz. Lahore’s captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-24.
The Qalandars’ chase was anchored by valuable contributions from Mohammad Naeem (46) and Abdullah Shafique (41). However, it was the unbroken 59-run partnership between Kusal Perera (62* off 31) and Sikandar Raza (22* off 7) that turned the tide. Raza, who arrived at the stadium just 10 minutes before the toss after playing for Zimbabwe in a Test match against England that concluded a day early, proved to be the man for the crisis. He hit a six and a four off consecutive deliveries in Faheem Ashraf’s final over to seal the historic win.
Quetta Gladiators’ captain Saud Shakeel rued missed opportunities but praised his team’s journey and Hasan Nawaz’s talent. Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Afridi credited his team’s collective effort and lauded Raza’s commitment, stating, “I told him that you came here for a purpose which is to help us win the trophy.”
Kusal Perera was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. While Hasan Nawaz won Player of the Tournament, other key awardees included Shaheen Afridi as leading wicket-taker and bowler of the tournament, and Sikandar Raza as the all-rounder of the tournament. The victory marks Lahore Qalandars’ continued dominance in the PSL, securing their third trophy, all under Afridi’s captaincy.
