PSL 2026: Karachi thrash Quetta, Lahore remain in playoffs hunt with victory over Peshawar

Karachi Kings ended their Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026) campaign with a win over Quetta Gladiators, while Lahore Qalandars stayed alive in the playoffs race, beating Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets on a double-header day on Saturday, April 25 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

In the first match of the day, Karachi had to win at all costs to stay alive in the playoffs race. Being put in to bat first by Karachi captain David Warner, Quetta Gladiators posted a good score of 195/6 in their 20 overs.

After openers Shamyl Hussain (0 off 1) and Khawaja Nafay (0 off 2) were removed in the very first over by Hasan Ali (2/41), captain Saud Shakeel (57 off 34) joined Roilee Rossouw at the crease. The duo stitched a massive 148-run stand off 81 balls for the third wicket. Dinesh Chandimal (30* off 17) also made a valuable contribution to guide Quetta over 190.

In reply, Jahandad Khan (1/38 in 3.3 overs) removed Jason Roy (20 off 15) early in Karachi’s run chase. However, it couldn’t do much damage to their spirits as captain Warner (89* off 48) and Reeza Hendricks (87* off 48) took their team over the line in 18.3 overs with their massive 141-run stand off 79 balls for the second wicket.

In the second match of the day, Lahore Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Afridi put Peshawar Zalmi in to bat first. After the early dismissals of James Vince (10 off 7) and Kusal Mendis (7 off 7), captain Babar Azam (59 off 45) stabilised the innings alongside Michael Bracewell with a 94-run partnership off 64 balls.

Iftikhar Ahmed (27* off 14) also made a valuable contribution to guide Peshawar to a good score of 199/4 in 20 overs. In the second innings, contributions from Fakhar Zaman (58* off 47), Abdullah Shafique (25 off 11), Charith Asalanka (33 off 26), Sikandar Raza (29 off 11) and Daniel Sams (35* off 15) helped Lahore complete the run chase in 19.3 overs.

Following Lahore’s six-wicket victory, Karachi got knocked out of the playoffs race, with the only competition now remaining between Lahore and Hyderabad Kingsmen for the final spot.

Best Batter of the Match

Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, Match 37

Best Bowler of the Match

Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, Match 37

Player of the Match

Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, Match 37

David Warner was adjudged Player of the Match for his magnificent innings of 89 (48), laced with ten fours and four sixes. He stitched a match-winning partnership with Reeza Hendricks to help Karachi chase down the target without breaking a sweat.

Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi, Match 38

Fakhar Zaman was adjudged Player of the Match for his half century as he scored an unbeaten 58* (47) with the help of four fours and two sixes and saw the chase through.

What did the captains say:

Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, Match 37

Winning Captain, David Warner (Karachi Kings):

Yeah, look, we sent a timer taking early wickets in the power play, which I asked for but it just got away from us a little bit. I felt like probably the 175 wicket after getting the first two, but those two batted well. They put on a good partnership, but to bring it back to 196, I felt, was a very chaseable total and it was about going out there and trying to execute a partnership. Look, I think you just got to go out there and, you know, play basics. I thought with the new ball on that wicket, one can have your name on it. And we had a little bit of luck, good start for me and Jason, to play that way and comprehensively win was great and now we have to wait with anticipation. Oh, we saw a cheese court over there. Hopefully I can do a dance or something. Or maybe a little bit of rain.

Losing Captain, Saud Shakeel (Quetta Gladiators):

It was a very beautiful tournament, we couldn’t really grab some key things, and we also didn’t get back-to-back wins. I think overall, in this year, performances whether individual or from anyone didn’t come like that, because of which we went very far behind in the tournament. But we gave our full try. Sometimes things go in your favour, sometimes they don’t. Last time the way we played the final, this time we couldn’t perform that well, so sometimes you have to accept it. Somewhere there were problems in batting, somewhere in bowling, so it’s like that, you know, the combined effort didn’t show. Yes, at halftime we felt that we were about ten runs short, but apart from that we felt these were good runs, and it wasn’t as easy as it looked when we were batting at that time. But they also played quite well in the second innings. But overall, if you see, we just couldn’t get that kind of a good performance throughout the tournament.

Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi, Match 38

Winning Captain, Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars):

It was a team effort, everyone gave their best, credit goes to Fakhar, Sams and to everyone actually. (On the decision to chase turning out to be the right one) We didn't chase in 5-6 games and we had also played an extra batter tonight so the thinking was they even if they score 190-200, we can chase it down easily. (On their plans if they qualify for the playoffs) I feel that we are struggling a bit in our death bowling, we will try to work on it and improve there. We have 2-3 days in our hands and hopefully, we will play better in the playoffs.

Losing Captain, Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi):

Sometimes you need to get a wake-up call like this and you have to accept it because we didn't execute our plans well in bowling and fielding. When we started batting, the pitch was a little two-paced. We wanted to take our time and build partnerships and in the end, we wanted our power-hitters to execute and we managed to do that. We almost scored 200. We didn't bowl well tonight but you have to face these things at times and you learn from these experiences. (On handling Ali Raza) I have to keep patience. Sometimes, when as a youngster and as a fast bowler you go for runs you tend to go off-track a bit and not understand how to execute things but as captain, I try to give that player confidence. Whenever a bowler gets hit, my job is to give him confidence and remind him about how they executed in practice and in the earlier games. (On moving back to Karachi to play the Qualifier) The conditions will be different there. We have won six games there and the conditions will suit us but the main thing is we are going there after a break so we will have to assess the conditions and adapt accordingly. (On whether the pressure of playoffs is different) When you overthink about these things, the pressure tends to get to you. We will try to take it one match at a time.