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ISLAMABAD: All-rounder Aaron Hardie delivered a match-winning performance to guide Peshawar Zalmi to a five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Pakistan Super League 11 Final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. The triumph ended Zalmi&rsquo;s nine-year wait for a second title and marked the first major trophy for Babar Azam as captain, sparking jubilant scenes as thousands of fans gathered with posters, flags, and chants celebrating the landmark victory. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the final and later met players on the field, shaking hands and congratulating them on &ldquo;remarkable display of skill and resilience.&rdquo; The premier also held discussions with Mohsin Naqvi, praising the Pakistan Cricket Board&rsquo;s efforts in successfully organizing the tournament. &ldquo;What a final! Great game of cricket&mdash;Pakistan raising its level,&rdquo; said Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in a statement following the match. Chasing a modest 130-run target, Zalmi suffered an early collapse as Mohammad Haris (6) and Babar Azam (0) fell in the opening over to Mohammad Ali, leaving the side reeling. However, Hardie steadied the innings with composure under pressure. He first stitched a brief stand with Kusal Mendis before forging a decisive 85-run partnership with Abdul Samad, who struck a brisk 48 off 34 balls. Hardie remained unbeaten on 56 off 39 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries to guide Zalmi home with 28 balls to spare. Earlier, Zalmi&rsquo;s decision to field first proved decisive as they bowled out Kingsmen for 129 in 18 overs. Hardie led from the front with outstanding figures of 4/27. Saim Ayub top-scored for Kingsmen with a patient 54, but lacked support as wickets fell regularly, including a middle-order collapse that saw the side slump to 73/6. Speaking after the match, Hardie said, &ldquo;I just wanted to stay calm and back my game. The team showed great belief, especially after the early wickets.&rdquo; Captain Babar Azam praised his team&rsquo;s fighting spirit, stating, &ldquo;This win means a lot. The way the boys bounced back shows the character of this side.&rdquo; Celebrations continued late into the night, with fans creating a festive atmosphere, waving banners and lighting fireworks, marking another proud moment in Pakistan&rsquo;s cricketing journey.

Cricket

Triumph ends Zalmi’s nine-year wait for a second title, marks first major trophy for captain Babar Azam, sparking jubilant scenes as thousands of fans gathered with posters, flags, and chants celebrating the landmark victory.



Hardie heroics power Zalmi to second PSL title triumph

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced Monday that Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved public attendance at all three Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoff matches.&nbsp;&ldquo;However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimize fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts,&rdquo; Naqvi posted on X.&nbsp;Naqvi added that PM Sharif also conveyed his best wishes to all four teams competing in the playoffs.&nbsp;&ldquo;Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,&rdquo; Naqvi said.&nbsp;Islamabad United will face Peshawar Zalmi in Karachi, while Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans will meet in Lahore.&nbsp;The loser of the first match will then face the winner of the second match in Lahore on May 1. The final match is scheduled for May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.&nbsp;The PSL Matches were initially scheduled to be held across six venues: Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, and Faisalabad.&nbsp;Earlier, the government decided to hold matches without spectators under the government&rsquo;s austerity drive, which was launched in the wake of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signs off on public attendance in all three Pakistan Super League playoff matches. Government had earlier decided to hold matches without spectators under the austerity drive, which was launched in the wake of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

PM Sharif signs off on letting fans to attend PSL playoffs: Naqvi

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise auction began Thursday at Jinnah Convention Centre with 10 qualified bidders competing for two new teams as the league expands to eight franchises for its 11th season. Indonesia-based FKS Group secured the seventh franchise for a record Rs1.75 billion ($6.2 million). Owner Fawad Sarwar confirmed the team will represent Hyderabad. The auction for the eighth franchise remains scheduled. Bidding battle unfolds The auction began at 5 pm with a base price of Rss1.1 billion ($3.89 million). Companies FKS and i2c engaged in a fierce contest that drove the final price 59% above the base. I2c opened with Rs1.42 billion ($5.02 million). FKS countered with Rs1.54 billion ($5.45 million). The bidding escalated rapidly as i2c pushed to Rs1.7 billion ($6.01 million) before FKS sealed the deal at Rs1.75 billion ($6.2 million). Walee Technologies, OZ Group of Companies, Prism Estate &amp; Builders and Inverex Solar Energy also placed early bids. Auction rules Each bidder received one five-minute strategic timeout. Minimum bid increments were set at Rs10 million ($35,366). No upper limit existed for bid increases. The Pakistan Cricket Board declared the round closed when no bidder surpassed FKS&#39;s final offer despite the auctioneer&#39;s final call. Expansion details The PSL expands from six to eight teams for season 11, scheduled between March 26 and May 3, 2026. Successful bidders can select home cities from a PCB-approved list including Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit. Qualified bidders The PCB confirmed 10 qualified bidders Wednesday. The list included Aim Next Inc, Deharki Sugar Mills, Inverex, Jazz, OZ Developers, Prism Developers, VGO TEL and Walee Technologies. Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen withdrew before the auction. Twelve parties initially filed bids. Ten passed the technical evaluation process. Teams honored PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi awarded PKR 90 million to Pakistan Shaheens for winning the Rising Stars Asia Cup. The Hong Kong Sixes champions received PKR 18.5 million. Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed after the bidding concluded. Current champions Three-time champions Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United lead the league. Peshawar Zalmi won in 2017. Quetta Gladiators claimed the 2019 title. Karachi Kings triumphed in 2020. Multan Sultans won in 2021.

Pakistan Super League holds franchise auction with 10 bidders competing for two new teams as league expands to eight franchises for season 11.

PSL auction: Hyderabad franchise sells for a record $6.2 million

Syed Maisam Ali

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan and South Africa continue their multi-format series, the spotlight now moves to Faisalabad, marking the city&rsquo;s first international cricket match in 17 years. Excitement is high as fans pack the Iqbal Stadium to witness the ODI leg of the tour.&nbsp;&ldquo;After 17 long years, international cricket finally returns to Faisalabad,&rdquo; Pakistan Cricket Board Chairperson Mohsin Naqvi said in a post on X. &ldquo;Delighted to see the excitement as Pakistan and South Africa begin the ODI series here in Pakistan&rsquo;s own &lsquo;Manchester&rsquo;.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1985647598078980446&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8b347d42e83f712d4833b1b879296a1bdde10ec5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 418px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The ongoing tour, covering Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, arrives at a symbolic moment: ten years since Pakistan successfully restored international cricket at home. Today&rsquo;s packed stadiums stand in stark contrast to the difficult period when cricket in Pakistan was forced into exile, and reflect a revival now recognized around the world.&nbsp;2009: Years of silence&nbsp;The journey back began amid adversity. In March 2009, an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore forced international cricket out of Pakistan indefinitely. Stadiums fell silent. Home series were relocated to the UAE. Generations of fans grew up watching their national team play &ldquo;home&rdquo; matches abroad, waiting for a day when the familiar roar of a Pakistani crowd would return.&nbsp;2015: Zimbabwe breaks the deadlockThat day finally came in May 2015, when Zimbabwe agreed to tour Pakistan, the first international side to do so in six years. Sixteen players and officials were welcomed at Lahore&rsquo;s airport to scenes of emotion and relief.The series, two T20Is and three ODIs, was played before sold-out stands at Gaddafi Stadium, a moment many still refer to as &ldquo;the rebirth.&rdquo;&nbsp;Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore described the occasion as deeply meaningful, recalling how the packed stadium sang Pakistan&rsquo;s national anthem in unison and how players and fans alike expressed gratitude for the team&rsquo;s courage to tour.&nbsp;Gradual return to normalcyZimbabwe&rsquo;s visit paved the way for others. Over the following years, Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pcb-confirms-dates-for-australias-threematch-t20i-series-in-lahore" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Australia</a>, and England in bilateral tours. Each successful series strengthened global confidence, supported by upgraded stadiums, advanced security protocols, and comprehensive logistical planning.&nbsp;Pakistan Super League: The turning pointThe launch of the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-launches-bidding-process-for-two-new-psl-franchises" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan Super League</a> (PSL) in 2016 accelerated cricket&rsquo;s return. Originally played in the UAE, the league gradually shifted home. Soon, foreign stars were playing in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan, in front of passionate crowds.&nbsp;The PSL demonstrated Pakistan&rsquo;s ability to host major events consistently and safely. More importantly, it restored the joy and energy of live cricket in Pakistani stadiums.&nbsp;2023 Asia Cup: Regional stage returnsA major breakthrough came in 2023, when Pakistan co-hosted the Asia Cup. Matches in Lahore and Multan drew overwhelming attendance and praise from the Asian Cricket Council. The successful tournament further strengthened the nation&rsquo;s case as a dependable host.&nbsp;Champions Trophy 2025: Revival fully realizedThis resurgence culminated earlier this year when Pakistan hosted the ICC Champions Trophy, its first major global event in nearly three decades. Matches in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi delivered world-class organization, enthusiastic crowds, and a festive nationwide atmosphere. International players spoke highly of Pakistan&rsquo;s hospitality, culture, and cricketing passion.&nbsp;The Champions Trophy confirmed one thing: Pakistan was not just ready for cricket, cricket was home again.&nbsp;Decade of pride and CelebrationFrom empty stands to overflowing stadiums, Pakistan&rsquo;s recovery stands as one of world cricket&rsquo;s most compelling revival stories. Today, as packed crowds cheer Pakistan against South Africa, the applause carries ten years of resilience, belief, and national unity.&nbsp;Sports data analyst and journalist Azeem Siddique, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, emphasized that the return of international cricket extends beyond sport.&nbsp;&ldquo;The revival of cricket in Pakistan is a major milestone, not just for cricket but for the entire country,&rdquo; Siddique said. &ldquo;Whenever international teams visit, industries like hotels, transportation, and food services all experience growth. It has a real economic impact.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that while Pakistan is now a proven safe destination, perceptions built after 2009 still need time to change.&nbsp;&ldquo;Security arrangements today are comprehensive and players feel protected,&rdquo; Siddique noted. &ldquo;But the restrictions placed during tours can limit their freedom. As the environment continues to improve, that comfort and confidence will keep growing.&rdquo;&nbsp;A decade ago, Pakistan waited for cricket to return. Today, cricket does not simply return, it thrives. The journey has come full circle, and the cheers across Faisalabad speak for millions: cricket is home.

After the 2009 attack halted cricket in Pakistan, the 2015 Zimbabwe tour marked its revival. Gradual returns by Sri Lanka, West Indies, and others, alongside PSL’s success, restored global confidence and reignited Pakistan’s cricketing spirit.


Articles tagged with "Pakistan Super League (PSL)"

Hardie heroics power Zalmi to second PSL title triumph

PM Sharif signs off on letting fans to attend PSL playoffs: Naqvi

PSL auction: Hyderabad franchise sells for a record $6.2 million

Decade of homecoming: Pakistan’s remarkable journey back to international cricket