26 May 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza played an unbeaten cameo of 22 runs off seven balls, including two fours and two sixes to help Lahore Qalandars win the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Sunday. The right-hander batted at a strike rate of 314.29 to help the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led side chase down 202 with six wickets in hand and one ball to spare.
This is the third time in the history of the PSL that Lahore Qalandars have walked away as the winners of the tournament. Their previous two wins had come in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
The winning runs were hit by Sikandar Raza, who had landed in Pakistan just ten minutes before the toss for the PSL final.
Just 24 hours before the PSL, Sikandar Raza was at Trent Bridge, trying to help Zimbabwe avoid an innings defeat against England. He scored 60 runs in the second innings of the one-off four-day Test. However, his dismissal paved the way for an easy and comprehensive England win.
Just hours after the conclusion of the one-off Test, Sikandar Raza got on a plane to travel to Lahore – the destination for the PSL final. Lahore Qalandars had prepared two team sheets for the PSL final, one with Raza and one without him.
Had Sikandar Raza not arrived back in time or the Test match between England and Zimbabwe had gone into the fourth day, Lahore Qalandars would have played Shakib Al Hasan.
When the toss for the PSL final between Lahore and Quetta happened at the Gaddafi Stadium, Sikandar Raza had landed in Pakistan but he still hadn’t reached the ground.
Summary:
Sikandar Raza landed in Pakistan minutes before the PSL final toss and played a crucial unbeaten cameo, helping Lahore Qalandars secure a thrilling victory and lift the PSL 2025 trophy.