The Lahore Qalanders became champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the third time in four years. Even more remarkable than their championship deeds was their riveting final which showcased phenomenal grit and talent. The fourth seed team in the regular season. It was an extraordinary run that saw them rebound from three straight knockout matches to win the Cup.
In front of a packed house at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Qalanders’ final match against a hot opponent was appropriately riveting. The electric Kusal Perera was the lynch-pin for the team with a blistering 62 not out. And his inning laid the groundwork for the Qalanders, who were eager to turn around their dismal mid-season slump.
Sahibzada Farhan was the player of the tournament with 449 runs, making him far and away the tournament’s top batter. His fluent batting gave the Qalanders’ batting depth the platform to pile on the runs. Fakhar Zaman played a crucial role, scoring 439 runs, and Abdullah Shafique with 376 runs equipped the team’s batting lineup further.
On the bowling aspect, the Qalanders had a terrifying barrage with several bowlers blazing all the way through the event to ship wicket after wicket tumbling. Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi all claimed 17 wickets in the tournament. Their exceptional runs in the playoffs proved their capacity to take down enemy batting lineups. In the final, Shaheen Shah Afridi was in amazing form, taking 3 wickets for only 24 runs. His work was absolutely instrumental in stemming the tide of the opposition’s scoring.
Each step in the Lahore Qalanders’ journey to the title was characterized by a dogged commitment and collective effort. Having placed fourth in the regular season, they fought to come back as a team during the playoffs. Their capacity to claim key matches when it mattered most showcased their mental toughness and tactical intelligence.
In another dramatic conclusion to the decider, Sikandar Raza hit the winning boundary. Special congrats to Shadab Khan, along with his brilliant all-round performance led the Qalanders to victory! His performance is a reminder of his immense value to the team. It further entrenched Lahore’s preeminence in the league’s short history.
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