Sunday 08 / June / 2025
Muscat: Pakistan Super League (PSL) final was broadcast live on a 200 inch screen at Pakistan Social Club (PSC) on Sunday.
Nearly 100 people showed up to watch the final match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi, which Islamabad won by three wickets.
All Pakistani cricketer lovers agreed on one thing. That it was a victory for cricket in Pakistan as high profile cricket had returned to Karachi’s national stadium after nine long years. International and other high profile cricket matches had been suspended in Pakistan over security concerns.
Defending champions Peshawar were restricted by leg spinner Shadab Khan’s brilliant spell of 3 for 25 and could only manage 149. English all-rounder Chris Jordan was the top run getter for Peshawar scoring 36 of just 26 balls.
Islamabad’s Kiwi opener Luke Ronchi smashed 52 of just 26 balls, setting the tone for the rest of the game. However, the eventual champions had to withstand a middle order collapse before Peshawar wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal dropped Asif Ali’s catch towards the end.
Asif Ali made Peshawar pay for by scoring 26 off just 6 balls. This included three consecutive sixes in the 16th over.
Pakistan Social Club (PSC) secretary general Mohammad Zaeem, himself an Islamabad native was delighted about his favourite team’s victory.
**media[847344]**
“Most Peshawar fans left early,” he chuckled. “But it was a great victory and I’m really happy,” he added.
Peshawar Zalmi fan Ehsan Sajjad was disappointed with his team’s loss, but could see a silver lining in it. “At the end of the day, Pakistan won as high profile cricket came to Karachi after ten years. I was sad about Kamran Akmal dropping that crucial catch, but all’s well at the end of the day,” he said.
Mazhar Javed from the youth talent wing of PSC said that he was happy that the team from the capital city of Pakistan had won, adding that he was hoping for more cricket to be played in Pakistan.
“We want to see Virat Kohli play in Pakistan against Mohammad Amir. That would be great,” he added.
Iftikhar Ahmed, also from the youth talent wing echoed the same sentiments as Javed. “We hope this leads to a revival of cricket in Pakistan,” he remarked.
Pakistani cricket fan Imran Fazal said: “I just feel that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deserve praise for conducting the semifinals and finals in Pakistan without any hitches. Hopefully, all PSL matches will be played in Pakistan soon”.
