How the Final Played Out
How the Final Played Out
The 2025 Pakistan Super League ended with a bang. Lahore Qalandars walked away with the title for the third time, defeating Quetta Gladiators in a high-scoring chase at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The final wasn’t just a match. It was a contest of strategy, power hitting, and last-minute surprises.
Sikandar Raza, who had just played a Test match for Zimbabwe, landed in Lahore barely ten minutes before the toss. But his seven-ball cameo in the chase showed no signs of fatigue. Quetta Gladiators, led by Hasan Nawaz’s blistering 76, posted 201. But Lahore responded with power from every corner. Kusal Perera smashed a quick 62. Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique backed it up. Sikandar Raza sealed it in the end, helping Lahore cross the line with one ball to go.
Match Summary
|
Event |
Detail |
|
Match |
PSL 2025 Final |
|
Teams |
Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators |
|
Venue |
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
|
Toss |
Quetta Gladiators (opted to bat first) |
|
1st Innings (Quetta) |
201/9 in 20 overs (RR: 10.05) |
|
2nd Innings (Lahore) |
204/4 in 19.5 overs (RR: 10.28) |
|
Result |
Lahore won by 6 wickets |
|
Player of the Match |
Kusal Perera (62 off 31) |
Top Performances That Defined the Game
Quetta Gladiators - Batting:
- Hasan Nawaz: 76 from 43 balls
- Faheem Ashraf: 28 off 8 balls
Lahore Qalandars - Batting:
- Kusal Perera: 62 from 31 balls
- Mohammad Naeem: 46 off 27 balls
- Abdullah Shafique: 41 from 28 balls
- Sikandar Raza: 22 not out from just 7 balls
Top Bowlers:
- Shaheen Afridi (Lahore): 3/24
- Haris Rauf (Lahore): 2/41
- Abrar Ahmed (Quetta): 1/27
Prize Money Breakdown
Despite the thrilling finale, the numbers off the field didn’t quite impress. The prize money for PSL 2025 was limited to just the top two teams. Here’s how it was distributed:
|
Position |
Team |
PKR |
INR |
USD |
|
Winner |
Lahore Qalandars |
145 million |
₹4.15 crore |
$500,000 |
|
Runner-up |
Quetta Gladiators |
56 million |
₹1.66 crore |
$200,000 |
Award Winners of PSL 2025
Some players stood out not just in the final, but throughout the season. Here are the award winners who shaped the tournament:
|
Award |
Player |
Team |
Highlight |
|
Final’s Player of the Match |
Kusal Perera |
Lahore Qalandars |
62 off 31 balls |
|
Best Catch |
Avishka Fernando |
Quetta Gladiators |
Two crucial dismissals |
|
Player of the Season |
Hasan Nawaz |
Quetta Gladiators |
399 runs in 10 matches |
|
Emerging Player of the Season |
Mohammad Naeem |
Lahore Qalandars |
314 runs in 12 games |
|
Best Batsman |
Hasan Nawaz |
Quetta Gladiators |
399 runs total |
|
Best Bowler |
Abrar Ahmed |
Quetta Gladiators |
17 wickets in 12 matches |
|
Best Wicketkeeper |
Mohammad Haris |
Peshawar Zalmi |
247 runs and 12 dismissals |
|
Best Fielder |
Abdul Samad |
Peshawar Zalmi |
9 catches in 5 matches |
|
Best All-Rounder |
Sikandar Raza |
Lahore Qalandars |
254 runs, 10 wickets |
|
Top Run Scorer (Hanif Mohammad Cap) |
Sahibzada Farhan |
Islamabad United |
449 runs |
|
Top Wicket Taker (Fazal Mahmood Cap) |
Shaheen Afridi |
Lahore Qalandars |
19 wickets |
|
Spirit of the Game |
– |
Peshawar Zalmi |
Consistent fair play |
Leading Performers in the League
Batting Stats
|
Stat |
Player |
Team |
Performance |
|
Most Runs |
Sahibzada Farhan |
Islamabad United |
449 runs in 12 innings |
|
Highest Individual Score |
Sahibzada Farhan |
Islamabad United |
106 off 69 balls vs Peshawar |
|
Best Strike Rate |
Alex Hales |
Islamabad United |
237.83 |
|
Most Sixes |
Hasan Nawaz |
Quetta Gladiators |
28 sixes |
|
Most 50+ Scores |
Hasan Nawaz |
Quetta Gladiators |
4 half-centuries |
|
Most Ducks |
Shakib Al Hasan |
Lahore Qalandars |
2 ducks |
Bowling Stats
|
Stat |
Player |
Team |
Performance |
|
Most Wickets |
Shaheen Afridi |
Lahore Qalandars |
19 wickets |
|
Best Inning Figures |
Faheem Ashraf |
Quetta Gladiators |
5/33 in 3.2 overs vs Peshawar |
|
Best Bowling Average |
Maaz Sadaqat |
Peshawar Zalmi |
6.00 |
|
Best Economy Rate |
Arif Yaqoob |
Peshawar Zalmi |
6.50 |
|
Best Strike Rate |
Mitchell Owen |
Peshawar Zalmi |
8.50 |
|
Most 5-Wicket Hauls |
Faheem Ashraf |
Quetta Gladiators |
1 five-wicket haul |
What the Numbers Say About PSL’s Growth
If you compare the performance on the field, PSL 2025 delivered. The matches were close. The batting displays were fierce. The bowlers did not hold back. However, the prize pool is still a concern. Only the top two teams received cash rewards. There were no payouts for the third or fourth-placed teams.
This raises an important point. In leagues like the IPL, there is a broader distribution. The winner in IPL 2025 reportedly received $2.4 million, and the runner-up walked away with $1.56 million. By contrast, PSL’s winner got only $500,000.
In global cricket, money matters. For many franchises, that money helps fund training, support staff, and local talent development. When only two teams are rewarded, others lose incentive. A deeper prize pool would have made the league more competitive, more rewarding, and more aligned with international standards.
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