RAWALPINDI – In a rain-curtailed 13-over-per-side match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore Qalandars clinched a 26-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi to confirm their place in the HBL PSL 2025 playoffs, thanks to Fakhar Zaman’s explosive batting and Salman Mirza’s brilliant bowling.
Lahore Qalandars, batting first, posted a strong total of 149-8, led by Fakhar Zaman’s 60 off 36 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and three sixes. Despite early interruptions and wickets, Fakhar’s aggressive approach and some late hitting from Asif Ali (two sixes in consecutive deliveries) pushed the Qalandars to a commanding score. The rain-shortened game made every run vital, and Fakhar’s innings proved crucial. Salman Mirza then starred with the ball, picking up 4 wickets for 31 runs, as Qalandars restricted Zalmi to 123-8, knocking them out of playoff contention with only one point separating the teams before this crucial match.
Qalandars’ strong powerplay—scoring 58-1 in the first four overs—was set up by Mohammad Naeem (22 off 10) before he was dismissed by Daniel Sams. Abdullah Shafique also fell early to Ali Raza, but Fakhar kept the scoreboard ticking, reaching a half-century after being dropped by Saim Ayub at deep square leg. Though Kusal Perera (17 off 8) was run out, Asif Ali’s powerful strokes—including consecutive sixes off Ali Raza—further boosted Qalandars’ total.
In the final overs, Qalandars lost momentum as Ahmed Daniyal removed Asif and Shakib Al Hasan, while Sams bowled a perfect yorker to dismiss Fakhar. A late six from captain Shaheen Shah Afridi took them close to the 150-mark.
Peshawar Zalmi’s chase faltered early, with only 35-3 in the powerplay. Salman Mirza struck twice in the last two balls of the fourth over, removing Mohammad Haris and Max Bryant, following Saim Ayub’s early dismissal. The pressure mounted as Babar Azam, Zalmi’s key batter, was caught off Sikandar Raza, pushing the asking rate beyond 14 runs per over. Zalmi stumbled to 63-7, and though late cameos from Ahmed (24 off 14) and Sams (26 off 14) added some resistance, it wasn’t enough.
With this win, Lahore Qalandars not only moved into the PSL 2025 playoffs but also eliminated Zalmi, who were just one point behind them before this decider.
