The much-anticipated final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 is set to take place today at Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium, where the two-time champions Lahore Qalandars will face the formidable Quetta Gladiators.
The clash promises a thrilling contest as both teams vie for the coveted trophy, with pride and championship glory on the line.
Gladiators aim to reclaim glory under Saud’s captaincy
Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel, who took over leadership from Rilee Rossouw ahead of this season, expressed immense pride and determination to lead his team to PSL glory after a six-year wait. Under Saud’s guidance, the Gladiators topped the league stage with 15 points from 10 matches, suffering only two defeats.
“We are thrilled and honored to be playing in the PSL final. We will give our best to lift the trophy,” Saud Shakeel said confidently in a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The Gladiators had a strong campaign, marked by a dominant opening win against Peshawar Zalmi and a remarkable winning streak in the latter half of the tournament. Saud highlighted the team’s excellent form at Gaddafi Stadium, where they won five out of six matches this season, calling it a “lucky venue” and expressing hope to continue their momentum.
“Our team has been in great form throughout the tournament. Various players have performed exceptionally well under challenging conditions. Lahore Qalandars are an exciting opposition, and fans will witness a highly competitive final,” Saud added.
Lahore Qalandars eye third PSL title
Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the team’s hunger to secure their third PSL title, which would be a historic treble for the franchise. “We are buzzing to feature in our third PSL final in four years, and our aim is to complete the treble at our home ground,” Afridi said ahead of the match.
The Qalandars finished fourth in the league stage with 11 points but showed tremendous resilience in the playoffs. They defeated arch-rivals Karachi Kings by six wickets in Eliminator 1, followed by an emphatic 95-run win over the defending champions Islamabad United to reach the final.
Shaheen praised his team’s aggressive approach with both bat and ball, calling it the hallmark of a champion side. “Our team combination backs us to be aggressive throughout, which is a welcome development for any championship-winning team,” he said.
He also expressed confidence based on the team’s earlier performances against Quetta this season, which included a 79-run victory and an abandoned match in Lahore. “We will look to repeat those feats tomorrow evening,” Afridi added optimistically.
Weather update
The cricketing action may face disruption due to unpredictable weather conditions in Lahore. On Saturday, a severe dust storm followed by heavy rain hit the city, bringing dark clouds and heavy downpours that caused fallen trees and structural damage in some areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast additional rain showers for Sunday, along with temperatures fluctuating between 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. Such inclement weather raises concerns about the smooth conduct of the PSL 10 final.
According to PSL regulations, if the final is washed out on the scheduled day, a reserve day may be used. However, no official announcement regarding a reserve day has been made by the PCB. In such a case, the championship would be awarded to the team finishing higher in the league stage standings — in this case, the Quetta Gladiators, who topped the points table.
