Sikandar Raza’s dramatic last-minute arrival before the toss proved pivotal in Lahore Qalandars’ sensational triumph, as they secured their third Pakistan Super League (PSL) title with a thrilling six-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators on Sunday.
The 39-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder arrived in Lahore just 10 minutes ahead of the match after a long-haul journey from England, where he had played in Zimbabwe’s Test match defeat against England in Nottingham. Despite the exhausting travel, Raza delivered a match-winning performance.
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Raza smashed an unbeaten 22 off just seven balls, including two towering sixes and two classy fours, to guide Lahore to victory in a tense chase of 202 runs, finishing the match with just one ball remaining at Gaddafi Stadium.
“I had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi, and dinner in Pakistan,” Raza joked, highlighting the demanding nature of international cricket. “I feel honored and grateful.”
The successful chase was anchored by Raza and Sri Lankan batter Kusal Perera, who played a blistering knock of 62* off 31 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes. The duo put together an unbeaten 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket, rescuing Lahore at a critical stage.
Earlier in the innings, openers Mohammad Naeem (46) and Abdullah Shafique (41) laid a solid platform, which contributed to the highest successful run chase ever recorded in a PSL final.
Quetta Gladiators had opted to bat first after winning the toss and posted 201/9, powered by Hasan Nawaz’s explosive 76. He was supported by key partnerships with Avishka Fernando (29) and Dinesh Chandimal (22), which added 67 and 46 runs respectively.
Faheem Ashraf provided a late push with a quickfire 28, including 23 runs in the final over bowled by Salman Mirza, taking Quetta past the 200-mark.
Shaheen Shah Afridi stood out with the ball for Lahore, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 24.
This win marks Lahore Qalandars’ third straight PSL championship after back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, firmly establishing them as a dominant force in the league.
