Qalandars are chasing 202 record targets against gladiators to help Raza return from testing duties to achieve victory.
All-rounder Sikandar Raza wrote his name in the folktale of Pakistani cricket after hitting the match-winning six as Lahore Kalandas beat Quetta Gladiator with six wickets in the Pakistani Super League (PSL) 2025 final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Raza, who was part of Zimbabwe’s Test Team until Saturday afternoon, took part in the play for the Qalandars 10 minutes before the toss in the eastern metropolis of Pakistan, headed for the Sunday evening final.
The Pakistani-born off-break bowler and middle-order batter scored 22 runs from seven balls as Lahore chased 202 targets with one ball.
Lahore’s run chase, built mainly around Kusar Perera’s 62 runs and supported by the top batter Mohammed name and Abdullah Shafiq, was Raza’s whirlwind journey from England to Pakistan, and his subsequent role in the victory victory that took Shaw and Raholi Hearts.
The 39-year-old spoke about his final 24 hours, saying, “I flew straight to Lahore for dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi and the PSL Finals.”
Raza bowled 25 overs in the Test on Friday and left for Pakistan after hitting with over 20 overs on Saturday.
“I have no words to get a victory like this,” he said after the match.
The hosts finished 204-4 from the 19.5 overs, lifting the third PSL trophy in four years, making Shaheen Shah Afridi the only captain to win three PSL titles.
Previously, Quetta posted a horrifying total of 201-9 in 20 overs. Young batter Hasan Nawaz scored 76 runs from 43 balls, while Faheem Ashraf split three sixes and two fours in 28 balls innings from eight balls.
Afridi was a Lahore bowler pick, earning 3-24 in his four overs.
Perera was selected as the player in the instrumental inning match, which kept Lahore in the match until the end of the finale.
Meanwhile, Nawaz was selected as a tournament player for winning 399 runs in the competition.
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