Sikandar Raza produced a stunning last-over finish to guide Lahore Qalandars to their third Pakistan Super League (PSL) title, as they defeated Quetta Gladiators by six wickets in a pulsating final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
In what turned out to be a historic final, Raza, the 39-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder, arrived in Lahore just ten minutes before the toss — having batted for more than 40 overs in Zimbabwe’s Test match against England in Nottingham a day earlier. Yet, jetlag did not stop him from delivering under pressure. Needing 13 runs in the final over, Raza scored a whirlwind 22 not out off just seven balls, including two sixes and two boundaries, sealing victory with one ball to spare.
“It is unbelievable,” said Raza after the match. “Batted all day, flew to Dubai, had breakfast there, lunch in Abu Dhabi, and now this. To win it for Lahore like this — it’s just incredible.”
Raza was ably supported by Sri Lankan Kusal Perera, who anchored the chase with a brilliant unbeaten 62 off 31 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes. The duo added 59 runs in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand that ensured Lahore successfully chased down a record target of 202 — the highest ever in a PSL final.
Earlier, Mohammad Naeem (46 off 18, 6 sixes) and Abdullah Shafique (41 off 25) laid the platform with explosive starts at the top of the order.
Lahore’s title win marks their third PSL triumph following back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023, firmly establishing the franchise as a powerhouse in the league.
For Quetta, Hasan Nawaz was the standout performer, scoring a superb 76 to take his team to 201-9 after they opted to bat first. He stitched valuable partnerships with Avishka Fernando (29) and Dinesh Chandimal (22), while Faheem Ashraf’s late cameo (28 off 11) helped push Quetta beyond 200.
Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, playing in his debut PSL campaign for Lahore, returned figures of 1 for 42 in four overs but went wicketless in key moments. He didn’t get a chance to bat.
Shaheen Shah Afridi led Lahore’s bowling attack with figures of 3-24, while Salman Mirza’s final over leaked 23 runs.
The final had extra significance as it marked the resumption of the PSL following a week-long suspension due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament was halted on 9 May amid escalating conflict but resumed on 17 May after a ceasefire was declared.
With the dust now settled, Lahore Qalandars once again stand tall as champions, with Sikandar Raza’s miracle finish destined to go down as one of the great moments in PSL history.