Match 22 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 features Peshawar Zalmi (PES) against Islamabad United (ISL) as the league hits the halfway point on May 2, 2025, at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. PES is led by Babar Azam and possesses a depth of batting talent, led by Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris, while their bowling attack has proven strength in Alzarri Joseph and George Linde, while ISL, captained by Shadab Khan, also has fireworks with Sahibzada Farhan and Colin Munro at the top of the order and a talented group of bowlers headed up by Naseem Shah and Imad Wasim. This Gaddafi Stadium is a batting-friendly pitch, which points to an exciting match and a chance for high scores; however, the fast bowlers might have some early help.

PES vs. ISL has been a closely contested rivalry, and the record shows that, while ISL has a little advantage over PES at 13 wins to 12 wins in 25 matches, we can expect a closely contested match once again.

Prominent Encounters Between PES and ISL

PSL 2025, Match 5—April 14, Rawalpindi

• Islamabad United: 243/5 (Sahibzada Farhan 106 off 52, Colin Munro 40 off 27)
• Peshawar Zalmi: 141/10 (Mohammad Haris 87 off 47)
• Result: Islamabad United won by 102 runs

ISL registered a gargantuan 243, with Farhan's 106 and a 138-run partnership with Munro leading the charge. PES were disappointing in their chase, with Haris's 87 being no match for Imad Wasim (3/26) and Naseem Shah's demolition of their batting, who bowled them out in 18.2 overs.
Player of the Match: Sahibzada Farhan (ISL)

Also Read: PSL 2025: MUL vs KAR Match 20 - A Head to Head breakdown

PSL 2024, Eliminator 2 – March 16, Karachi

• Peshawar Zalmi: 185/5 (Babar Azam 59 off 40, Rovman Powell 38 off 22)
• Islamabad United: 189/5 (Imad Wasim 59* off 40, Haider Ali 52* off 29)
• Result: Islamabad United won by 5 wickets

PES scored 185, with Babar's 59 anchoring them, but ISL chased the target in 19 overs, with Imad's unbeaten 59 and Haider's blistering 52*. Alzarri Joseph picked up 2 wickets, but ISL's late push sealed the victory.
Player of the Match: Imad Wasim (ISL)

PSL 2023, Match 12—February 23, Karachi

• Islamabad United: 159/7 (Shadab Khan 44, Azam Khan 38)
• Peshawar Zalmi: 156/8 (Babar Azam 75 off 58)
• Result: Islamabad United by 3 runs

ISL scored 159, with the stability of 44 by Shadab. PES reached just short by Babar's 75; despite this, since Naseem Shah's penultimate death bowling (2/27) and Rumman Raees' 2 wickets brought about an edge-of-the-seat 3-run win for ISL.
Player of the Match: Shadab Khan (ISL)

While the Indian Premier League remains the most followed T20 league in the world, the Pakistan Super League on the other side of the border is laying down some first-class cricket. The timeless charm of these leagues lies in the way they make their teammates compete against one another. Last night, in Delhi, KL Rahul was competing against Virat Kohli, and the two had a slight face-off in the middle. Likewise, in the PSL as well, two of cricketing great names of Pakistan faced each other when Mohammad Amir bowled against Babar Azam in the match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday.

Amir tested Babar severely. Amir bowled four balls to Babar, all of which tested the former Pakistan skipper. Amir's first delivery was a bouncer, hitting Babar flush on the crash helmet. The batter took a concussion test, but there was no relief. Babar could manage just one off Amir's bowling before he got out. A wicked inswinger from the left-arm pacer struck Babar on the pads, and the batter was stone dead. Up went the finger in a flash, and Babar began his walk back.

But Amir's celebration was the icing on the cake. The experienced pacer was ecstatic and rushed to the dugout of the Gladiators, where mentor Viv Richards was sitting. Amir waved his hand at Richards in joy over the wicket, but the West Indies icon advised him to remain cool, relax and keep it up. Amir ended with 1/18 but it was his teammate Faheem Ashraf, who stole all the limelight with a five-wicket-haul. Faheem picked up 5/33 off 3.3 overs as the Gladiators defeated Zalmi by a massive 64 runs. Babar, who has 117 runs, is not even among the top 10 list of highest run-getters in PSL 2025, while Amir is 12th with 7 wickets. For their teams, Zalmi is not doing well, being fourth with two wins out of six matches. The Gladiators are better off than Zalmi but still at third position with six points are not yet out of the woods.

Watch the video here

Interactions between Mohammad Amir and Sir Viv Richards after getting Babar Azam.🔥👌pic.twitter.com/bI1qKwhyjQ

— junaiz (@dhillow_) April 27, 2025

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Viv Richards backs Babar Azam

The West Indian legend said that Babar Azam would soon find his rhythm again. He said that a king is a monarch who reigns supreme and, regardless of how great a batter is, everyone experiences a dip in form. Richards mentioned that this was not the first time Babar was going through such a phase and expressed confidence that Babar, being an excellent player, would return to form very soon. He added that players like Kohli and Babar do justice to the game of cricket.

"Babar Azam will also get into his rhythm soon. A king is a monarch who reigns supreme. Regardless of how great a batter you are, every one experiences a dip in form. This is not the first time he is experiencing such a phase. Babar is an excellent player. I am confident he will return to form very soon. I think when you see players like Kohli and Babar, they seem to do justice to the game of cricket," Richards said.

A tense situation arose in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans when Colin Munro of New Zealand suggested that Iftikhar Ahmed had "chucked." Islamabad United were chasing a total of 169 at the time in the 10th over when the controversy occurred. Munro used the forward defending technique to retrieve a fast delivery from Iftikhar aimed at his toes. However, Munro's follow-through as he cried foul over a bent elbow action stole the show as he cantered down to accuse the off-spinner of breaching permissible bowling actions.

Munro’s gestures created immediate tension. His repeated motion, imitating a bent-arm delivery, frustrated Iftikhar, who went straight to the on-field umpire to express his concerns. The umpire sought to calm the situation, but it was too late as Munro's actions had already stirred an action from the Multan Sultans camp. Several of Iftikhar's teammates were agitated and confronted Munro about what they deemed unsportsmanlike action as the match turned into an emotional outburst rather than a contest of competition.

The confrontation intensified when Pakistan’s national team captain Mohammad Rizwan intervened. In a video published by the PSL’s social media accounts, Rizwan could be seen confronting Munro about an apparent disrespect to his teammate. Once the video was published, it went viral, illustrating how emotionally charged the match was. Even though officials restored calm and resumed the game without incident, it became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament, resulting in the general feeling whether sportsmanship and the spirit of the game could be overshadowed in high-pressure situations.

Watch the video here;

Colin Munro accuses Iftikhar Ahmed of chucking in PSL game.
pic.twitter.com/OujiNbxN19

— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) April 23, 2025

ICC stands on illegal bowling action

“An Illegal Bowling Action is where a player is throwing rather than bowling the ball. This is defined by the ICC as being where the player’s elbow extends by an amount of more than 15 degrees between their arm reaching the horizontal and the ball being released,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) states in their rules and regulations section on their website.

Following the clash between Colin Munro and Iftikhar Ahmed, Islamabad United secured a seven-wicket victory over the Multan Sultans at Multan Cricket Stadium. Munro played a key role in the chase himself, scoring a quick 45 runs from 28 balls before being caught by Iftikhar himself. Iftikhar, who was in the middle of the controversy, also bowled in the match, giving up 20 runs in two overs. Although moments in the match felt tense, the match was ultimately won by match.

Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi has just received a gift that’s as golden as his career—a brand-new 24K gold-plated iPhone 16 Pro. The stunning luxury item was presented to the fast-bowling sensation as a special gesture, and the moment was captured on video, quickly going viral among cricket fans and tech enthusiasts alike.

The exclusive iPhone, customized with pure 24-karat gold, adds a touch of royal elegance to Shaheen’s collection. As one of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricketers and a two-time PSL-winning captain, Shaheen continues to make headlines both for his on-field dominance and his off-field charm. This luxury smartphone gift reflects not only his success but also the admiration he commands as a sporting icon.

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In the video, Shaheen can be seen smiling as he unboxes the gleaming iPhone, its gold finish sparkling under the lights. The gesture came from a luxury customization brand known for creating elite devices for celebrities and influencers. Fans have flooded social media with reactions, praising the Qalandars skipper and celebrating the classy upgrade.

Watch here

The iPhone has landed 📱😉

Our Captain Qalandar receives a gift he’s worthy of 💛🤴🏽
A custom 24K Gold-plated IPhone 16 Pro, made just for Lahore Qalandars’ main man, Shaheen! pic.twitter.com/PYigEiJvRR

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) April 20, 2025

Shaheen Afridi joins Elite list with 24k Gold Iphone Gift

This isn't the first time cricketers have been gifted extravagant items, but a 24K gold iPhone definitely ranks high on the list of unique and high-end surprises. With this new addition, Shaheen joins a list of global stars who have been recognized with premium, personalized tech. 

Shaheen Afridi continues to be one of the most admired young leaders in the cricket world, and this latest golden gift only adds to his aura. Whether it's delivering match-winning spells or making style statements off the field, the Qalandars captain certainly knows how to shine.

In a thrilling Pakistan Super League (PSL) encounter, the Kings dominated the match, posting a strong 175/7 and restricting Quetta to 119/9, winning by 56 runs. One of the most entertaining moments occurred during the 19th over of Quetta's innings when Hasan Ali dismissed Abrar Ahmed. What followed was a hilarious and unforgettable moment as Hasan Ali mimicked Abrar’s signature head-nod celebration, turning it into a viral sensation across social media.

The lighthearted exchange between the two players quickly became the highlight of the match. Known for his energetic and animated celebrations, Hasan Ali added a fun twist after taking Abrar’s wicket. Instead of the usual celebratory gestures, Ali turned it into a playful jab, mocking Abrar’s signature head-nod with his own exaggerated version, bringing laughter to the crowd and fans watching from home. It became a moment cricket lovers couldn't stop talking about.

Hasan Ali’s trademark celebration is one of the most memorable sights in cricket, and this time, it was delivered with a cheeky twist. The moment was captured perfectly, showing that while competitive spirit is essential in cricket, a little humor can add to the fun. Fans flooded social media with memes and clips, making it one of the most talked-about incidents from the PSL, demonstrating that cricket is about more than just winning—it's about moments that entertain and unite fans worldwide.

Also read: Watch: Abrar Ahmed's Epic Celebration After Dismissing David Warner in PSL

Hasan Ali's celebration sparks light-hearted moment

The head-nod, sharp and exaggerated, drew laughter from teammates and spectators alike. The moment perfectly captured the friendly banter and camaraderie that often exists between players, especially when the pressure of international cricket is off. Abrar Ahmed, who couldn’t help but smile, took the mockery in stride, acknowledging the gesture with good sportsmanship.

Hassan Ali Imitates Abrar....#HassanAli #AbrarAhmed #KKvsQG #QGvsKK #HBLPSL10 pic.twitter.com/S7GvE51Rt1

— Pakistan Cricket Team USA FC (@DoctorofCricket) April 18, 2025

The clip of the moment quickly surfaced online, and fans wasted no time sharing it across platforms. Cricket lovers praised the light-hearted nature of the interaction, enjoying a rare glimpse of the fun side of the game. Many commented that such moments make the sport even more entertaining, bringing players closer to their supporters through genuine, unscripted interactions.

Hasan Ali’s unique celebration style has always set him apart on the field. Whether it’s his airplane-like gestures, fist-pumps, or the now-iconic head-nod, he knows how to bring drama and personality to every wicket. This recent moment with Abrar Ahmed only added to his long list of memorable on-field antics.

Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam recently shared his most cherished moment from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and it wasn't for a match-winning performance or a trophy win. Instead, it was a personal one meeting his idol AB de Villiers. Babar referred to the encounter as a dream come true and shared that it left an indelible mark on him.

This occurred in 2019 when there was the PSL season in Dubai and AB de Villiers was playing for Lahore Qalandars. Babar, who had been a fan of the South African legend for years, had an admission to make that he tried to pattern his game and shot selection after de Villiers when he began his career.Their interaction was an eye-opener, as per Babar, and a memory that still glows brightly in his PSL career.

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PSL Title with Karachi Kings Another Career Highlight

Although the encounter with AB de Villiers is near and dear to Babar's heart, he also mentioned winning the PSL title with Karachi Kings in 2020 as one of his most cherished moments. In the game against Lahore Qalandars in the final, Babar delivered a match-winning 63 not out and was named Player of the Match. It was Karachi Kings' inaugural PSL title, and Babar's performance helped them win it. Babar has played for several PSL teams previously, and now he is leading Peshawar Zalmi towards the 2025 season. Along with him is young opener Saim Ayub, who has joined the team after taking some time off due to an injury, and whom the team is looking for a good season from.

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They will face Quetta Gladiators in their opening match on April 12 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Babar recently played for Pakistan during the recent ODI series against New Zealand and scored 129 runs in three games. Though the series was whitewashed by Pakistan, Babar's personal performance was excellent. Now that a new season of PSL is on the horizon, the fans are waiting impatiently to find out what fresh memories he will create on and off the ground.

The HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) is poised to take the fan experience in Season 10 to a higher level by launching Player Tracking Technology. From April 11, PSL X will employ this cutting edge system to capture granular ball-by-ball data, providing real-time analytics of the game.This new technology will record each movement in the field a fielder's position, a bowler's run-up, or a batter's stance frame by frame.

The information gathered from each delivery is going to be presented on the screen through easy to understand, simple to view graphics, and this will provide the fans with a better insight into what is happening in the field. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) affirms this is a major step towards harmonizing the PSL with international standards of broadcasting. The technology, apart from raising engagement, will also raise the level of transparency during games. The coaches and captains will use the information real-time to make better decisions.

ALSO SEE: Irfan Pathan Criticizes CSK, PBKS for Poor Fielding in High Scoring IPL Match

Key Features to Enhance Strategy and Fan Experience

Among some of the interesting features of this technology are zone-based fielding performance, batting heatmaps of scoring regions, catch analysis, and intelligent breakdowns of field placements. All these will enable fans to experience the game more intelligently while giving teams useful information to optimize strategies during games. Apart from this tracking system, PSL X will also offer auto no-ball detection, umpire communication in real time, Decision Review System (DRS), innings timer, multi-camera replays, and match logging to provide an entirely tech-supported match environment.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Shubman Gill Clean Bowled by Archer’s Speedy Delivery

The 10th season of PSL will get underway with an electrifying opening ceremony in Rawalpindi. The 34-match season, comprising 30 league and four playoff games, will take place across the four cities of Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. The big finale will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on May 18. Defending title holders Islamabad United will battle Lahore Qalandars in the inaugural match.

Pakistan Super League 2025 (PSL 2025) to host a ceremony to announce the new season of the cricketing festival in the country. The ceremony will be marked by many legendary artists and plenty of colors and fireworks. The PSL 2025 opening program is set to host on Friday, April 11, at 7:00 at the iconic Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. 

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The Pakistan Super League, containing 6 teams, will be ignited in their upcoming season through the face-off between two heavyweight teams of the tournament—Islamabad United, the defending champions, and Lahore Qalandars, the two-time winners. The first ball of the match and the tournament is scheduled for 8:30 PM.

As per media reports, this year's PSL ceremony will be historic with many celebrations of the country. The ceremony will be touched by the voices of legendary Sufi artist Abida Parveen, a cultural act by Ali Zafar accompanied by the young talents like Young Stunners. Along with these artists, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will witness the performances of the HBL PSL X anthem—Abrar ul Haq, Ali Zafar, Natasha Baig, and Talha Anjum. 

The final match of the PSL 2025 will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium on May 18. Although the tournament will be arranged in four venues, which contain National Bank Stadium (Karachi), Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore), Multan Cricket Stadium, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. 

Islamabad United squad

Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Matthew Short, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Jason Holder, Haider Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Benjamin Dwarshuis, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Andries Gous, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Irshad, Rassie van der Dussen, Riley Meredith, Sam Billings, Hunain Shah, Saad Masood

Lahore Qalandars squad

Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi, Daryl Mitchell, Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, Kusal Perera, Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan, David Wiese, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali Mohammad Akhlaq, Rishad Hossain, Muhammad Naeem, Salman Ali Mirza, Tom Curran, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Azab.

Three Bangladeshi cricketers Liton Das, Nahid Rana, and Rishad Hossain have submitted their applications to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to feature in the coming Pakistan Super League (PSL 2025), which will be held from April 11 to May 18.

• Litton Das has been selected by Karachi Kings as a wicketkeeper-batter.
• Pacer Nahid Rana has been selected by Peshawar Zalmi.
• Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain will play for Lahore Qalandars.

Their involvement in the PSL, though, might be complicated by Bangladesh's Test series against Zimbabwe, scheduled from April 20 to May 2. The BCB is yet to decide if it will give the players clearance to play in the league, given that the Test series is crucial for the national team.

BCB's in-charge cricket operations, Shahriar Nafees, said that the board is positively inclined towards giving NOCs in general, but they will have to take the players' availability and national engagement into account. As Liton and Nahid are members of Bangladesh's Test team, they are a matter of concern from the availability angle during this time. Rishad, though, is not a member of the Test side and is thus more likely to get the approval.

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The BCB will make the official announcement soon after factoring in the availability of the players for international duty. The BCB will also take care while addressing Nahid Rana's workload, not wishing for him to work himself to exhaustion in the PSL while balancing his national duties.

The addition of the trio to the PSL is pending the final decision of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The fans will be keen to learn whether the players can showcase their talent in the Pakistan Super League this season.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a legal notice to South African cricketer Corbin Bosch after he withdrew from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to play for the Mumbai Indians as an additional player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The schedules of the PSL and IPL are overlapping for the first time, causing unexpected conflicts regarding player availability.

Bosch's PSL Commitment and IPL Move

Bosch was picked up by Peshawar Zalmi in the Diamond category of the PSL 2025 Players Draft, which took place in Lahore on January 13. But just a few days ago, he was named in the Mumbai Indians squad as an injury replacement for Lizaad Williams.

Responding to this, the PCB sent a legal notice to Bosch by his agent, requesting him to clarify his PSL withdrawal. The board has also outlined what would happen in case of his contract breach and is awaiting a response within a fixed timeframe.

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PSL and IPL Clash for the First Time

Ever since its inception in 2016, the PSL has been played during February-March. But because of Pakistan's international games and Champions Trophy 2025, the tournament was forced to be realigned in April-May, clashing with the IPL for the very first time.

Due to this shift in scheduling, many foreign players who remained unsold in the IPL auction signed up with PSL franchises later on. Bosch was among them, but his decision to quit the league at the last minute has now created a controversy.

What's Next?

Bosch's reaction to the legal notice will be pivotal in deciding the PCB's course of action. His case could also serve as a precedent for future conflicts between leagues, since both tournaments battle for the best international players.

The question that this situation brings to mind is this: Should players respect their PSL contracts, or should they be allowed to change leagues if a better option presents itself?