May 23, 2025 | Lahore
Lahore Qalandars successfully chased down a target of 191, defeating Karachi Kings by six wickets with eight balls to spare. This crucial victory keeps Lahore’s hopes alive in the Pakistan Super League 2025 and sets up a high-stakes clash against Islamabad United, with the winner earning a place in the final.
Earlier in the tournament, Lahore suffered a humiliating loss to Karachi. After the match, captain Shaheen Afridi stated, “We’ll meet them in the playoffs.” His comment was widely seen as arrogant at the time. However, Lahore did meet Karachi in the playoffs—and this time, they delivered a powerful response.
Lahore will now play against Islamabad United today. The winner will proceed to the PSL 2025 Final.
Match Summary
Karachi Kings posted 190 for 8 in 20 overs. David Warner played a key role with 75 off 52 balls. His innings, however, was aided by fielding lapses from Lahore. He was dropped by Haris Rauf on 47 and went on to add 28 more. Mohammad Naeem also dropped a sitter earlier in the innings.
Karachi’s innings benefited from 19 extras, including 12 wides and 4 no-balls—undisciplined bowling that Lahore would later recover from.
In response, Lahore Qalandars chased the target with confidence. Abdullah Shafique led the way with a blistering 65 off 35 balls. Fakhar Zaman provided strong support with 47 off 28, while Bhanuka Rajapaksa finished the job with an unbeaten 23 off 12 deliveries.
Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings Match Summary
Lahore Qalandars crushed Karachi Kings in Eliminator 1 of PSL 2025, just as Shaheen Afridi had promised after their earlier defeat. From Warner’s explosive 75 to Shafique’s match-winning knock — this one had it all.
Scorecard
Karachi Kings: 190/8 (20 overs)
- David Warner 75 (52), Khushdil Shah 27* (14)
- Haris Rauf 3/35, Shaheen Afridi 2/47
Lahore Qalandars: 191/4 (18.4 overs)
- Abdullah Shafique 65 (35), Fakhar Zaman 47 (28)
- Hasan Ali 2/37, Mir Hamza 1/32
Key Highlights
- Shaheen’s Redemption: After being criticized for his playoff remark, Shaheen Afridi delivered with both words and performance.
- Fielding Errors: Key dropped catches allowed Warner to extend his innings.
- Undisciplined Bowling: Karachi’s 19 extras proved costly.
- Finishing Power: Rajapaksa’s calm cameo sealed the chase for Lahore.
From a public statement to a performance that backed it up, Shaheen Afridi and Lahore Qalandars have turned criticism into motivation. With one more hurdle to clear, they now face Islamabad United later today in a must-win clash for a spot in the PSL 2025 Final.
