LAHORE, MAY 25: Hasan Nawaz smashed fifty to help Quetta Gladiators recover after Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers managed to dismantle their top order in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 final being played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Earlier, Quetta Gladiators opted to bat first after winning the toss against Lahore Qalandars.
The curtain will fall on PSL X as tonight’s winner will walk away with the coveted trophy and a prize of $500,000, while the runners-up will receive $200,000.
It’s a chance for Lahore Qalandars to become only the second team in PSL history to clinch a third title, or for Quetta Gladiators to lift the trophy for the first time since 2019.
Qalandars, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, had a rocky path to the final, finishing fourth in the league stage with five wins and four losses. However, they peaked at the right time, knocking out Karachi Kings and Islamabad United in the Eliminators to reach their third final in four years.
Gladiators meanwhile, under the leadership of Saud Shakeel, have had a standout season after struggling in the last two editions. They topped the points table with seven wins, just two losses, and one no-result. Their dominant 30-run win over Islamabad United in the Qualifier sealed their place in the final.
Adding a moment of national pride to the cricketing spectacle, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that a special tribute will be paid to the Pakistan Navy during the innings break. A ceremony will be held during the innings break.
This follows earlier tributes during the tournament to the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force in recognition of their successful Operation Bunayn-um-Marsoos amid recent tensions with India.
Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Hasan Nawaz, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Rilee Rossouw, Faheem Ashraf, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Asif Ali, Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Rishad Hossain and Salman Mirza.
