On Saturday night (May 25), three Bangladeshi stars—Shakib Al Hasan, Rishad Hossain, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz—will take the field for Lahore Qalandars in the final of the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). If victorious, they will become the first Bangladeshi cricketers to lift the coveted PSL trophy.
The final is set to begin at 8:30 PM (local time) at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where Lahore Qalandars will take on 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators. Due to rain forecasts, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has designated May 26 as a reserve day.
Beyond cricket, the final will carry a patriotic note. During the innings break, the Pakistan Navy will be specially honored by the PCB. This follows earlier tributes to the Army and Air Force in light of the successful military operation “Operation Bunain Um Marsus,” amid recent tensions with India.
The winning team will take home $500,000, while the runners-up will receive $200,000. If Lahore emerges victorious, they will become only the second team to win the PSL three times. Quetta, on the other hand, are chasing their second title after their 2019 triumph.
Lahore, under the captaincy of Shaheen Shah Afridi, had a rocky start to the season but bounced back in the playoffs, defeating Karachi Kings and Islamabad United to secure their place in the final. Key batters like Fakhar Zaman (428 runs), Abdullah Shafique (349), and Mohammad Naim (270) have been instrumental. In the bowling department, Shaheen (16 wickets), Haris Rauf (15), and Rishad Hossain (12) have led the charge.
Quetta Gladiators, captained by Saud Shakeel, have been consistent throughout the tournament—topping the league with seven wins, two losses, and one no-result. They beat Islamabad by 30 runs in the Qualifier to book their final berth.
Quetta’s bowling unit is a well-balanced mix of pace and spin, featuring Abrar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf (both with 16 wickets), along with Khurram Shahzad, Aamir, and Wasim Jr. In batting, young sensation Hasan Nawaz (strike rate above 150) and veteran Rilee Rossouw have been standouts.
In their first meeting this season, Lahore defeated Quetta by 79 runs. The second encounter was washed out, but featured explosive fifties from Naim and Abdullah. Overall, Lahore leads the head-to-head with 11 wins to Quetta’s 8 in 20 matches.
Saud Shakeel said, “It’s an honor to lead Quetta in such a big game. Lahore is a tough side, and I expect a great final.”
Shaheen Afridi responded, “We want to make the most of our home ground advantage. We’ve beaten Quetta before and are confident. Our eyes are on a third title.”
Tonight, history could be made—not just for Lahore, but for Bangladesh cricket as well.
