All remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will now be held in Karachi after India conducted Operation Sindoor that targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The decision to move the matches to Karachi was made as a result of an A Sports report on advancing security. The PSL round-robin tournament started on April 11 and is scheduled to end on May 18.

The eight matches remaining in the tournament consist of four league matches and four playoff matches. Previously, faced with minimal global security issues, three league matches were slated for Rawalpindi and one for Multan. The playoff matches were also supposed to take place at Rawalpindi and Lahore, with Lahore set to host two Eliminator matches and the Final match.

See Also: Operation Sindoor Impact in PSL: England players may exit PSL over security fears

The meeting to make the venue decision was an emergency meeting that took place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Among the meeting participants were owners of PSL franchises and senior officials of law enforcement organizations. The decision to move all the matches to Karachi is to protect players, officials, and fans, however, the regional tensions are surging. 

The remaining matches of PSL have been shifted to Karachi. pic.twitter.com/bGEkp4VEr7

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 8, 2025

Drone attack at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium amid PSL 10

Panic ensued after a drone crash around Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, mere hours before a scheduled Pakistan Super League (PSL) fixture - Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings. The drone crashed into a nearby restaurant and injured two civilians, who were taken to hospital. As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, after Operation Sindoor, the authorities close the area and opened an investigation to determine where the drone came from and if it had any payloads. This raises serious concerns about security ahead of the scheduled match. 

The incident caused panic across social media, with images plastered across profiles and the fears over player and spectator safety arising again. The PSL match that was due to be held on May 8, is now uncertain, with reports stating that the PSL would move the tournament to Karachi, which is expected to be more secure. The Pakistan Cricket Board and law enforcement are monitoring the situation, weighing up their options of supporting major sporting events as tensions further escalate.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket

Memorable Matchups Between PES and LAH

Match 27 in PSL 2025 is between Peshawar Zalmi (PES) and Karachi Kings (KAR) and is to be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 8, 2025, at 8:30 PM PKT. This is a big game for both franchises to help determine the playoff standings in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Head-to-Head Record

• Total Matches: 21
• PES Wins: 15
• KAR Wins: 6
• No Result/Tied: 0
• Win Percentage: PES has a 71.43% win rate against KAR.

Also Read: Shocking Update: Will IPL 2025 be cancelled due to Operation Sindhoor?

Notable Confrontations Between PES and KAR

The PES vs. KAR rivalry has delivered many entertaining rivalries over the years, and while sometimes PES has the edge in this rivalry, there have been plenty of entertaining matches. Here are three of the best matches between PES and KAR:

April 21, PSL 2025, Match 11 - Karachi (National Stadium)

• PES: 147/8 (20 overs)
• KAR: 148/8 (20 overs)
• Result: Karachi Kings by 2 wickets

PES scored 147/8 (Babar Azam 46). KAR's Abbas Afridi (3 wickets) and Khushdil Shah (3 wickets) kept PES in check. David Warner (60) and Khushdil (23) guided a thrilling chase. Player of the Match: Abbas Afridi.

Also Read: WATCH: Rahul Vaidya's response when asked about his controversy with Virat Kohli

February 21, PSL 2024, Match 6 - Lahore (Gaddafi Stadium)

• PES: 154/10 (19.5 overs)
• KAR: 157/3 (16.5 overs)
• Result: Karachi Kings by 7 wickets

PES scored 154/10 (Babar Azam 72). Mir Hamza (3 wickets) delivered with the ball for KAR. After that, KAR chased down the PES total with 157/3 in 16.5 overs. Player of the Match: Mir Hamza.

June 24, PSL 2021, Final - Abu Dhabi

• PES: 170/7 (20 overs)
• KAR: 123/10 (18.2 overs) 
• Result: Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs

PES scored 170/7 and bowled out KAR for 123. The PES bowling unit delivered during the chase. Player of the Match: PES bowler (name unavailable).

Peshawar Zalmi (PES) got back to back victorious in the ongoing tenth season of the Pakistan Super League. Zalmi faced an out of form Multan Sultans (MS), the bottom most team in the ten league-tournament points table. Peshawar won the match 25 of ISL 10 by 7 wickets, 42 balls to spare. 

Toss and the first innings 

Multan Sultans was the first team to bat in this match after their skipper Mohammad Rizwan decided after winning the toss. Sultans batting performance was not something to glorify about. Their top tier batter tried as much as possible to create a solid foundation for a handsome, but they field miserably. MS lost all their 10 wickets in 19.1 with only 108 runs in hand. Ahmed Daniyal claimed 3 three wickets for Peshawar Zalmi. 

The second innings 

The tatget was easy, team was on form, Peshawar Zalmi did not take the match too long to conclude. Bowlers of Multan Sultans unable to produce significant moments for their team as they were looking completely helpless against Saim Ayub and Max Bryant duo. Ayub scored 49 and Bryant remain not out for 38. Shahid Aziz took a couple of wickets for Multan Sultans. 

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Babar Azam, captain of Peshawar Zalmi said after the game, "The way Saim Ayub batted today, we’ve been waiting a long time for that. Alhamdulillah, it’s important for Peshawar that he’s back in form. When he’s at the crease, he can change the game."

Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi full match scoreboard 

Multan Sultans- 108/10 (19.1 Overs)

Peshawar Zalmi- 110/3 (13 Overs)

The excitement is building for a thrilling showdown in PSL 2025 as Multan Sultans take on Peshawar Zalmi at the iconic Multan Cricket Stadium today, May 05. With both teams aiming to get an early edge in the tournament, the weather and pitch conditions are expected to play a key role in determining the match outcome.​

Match Details:

• Date: May 05, 2025
• Match: Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi 
• Time: 8:30 PM PKT
• Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
• Win % Batting First: 64%
• Win % Bowling First: 36%​

Also read: SRH vs DC : Match 55 Weather and Pitch report IPL 2025

Weather and Pitch Conditions:

Weather:

• Temperature: Expected to peak at 41°C (106°F) during the day, cooling to around 21°C (70°F) by evening.
• Conditions: Clear skies with no chance of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted match.
• Humidity: Low, but players should stay hydrated due to the high daytime temperatures.​

Pitch:

• Nature: Batting-friendly surface offering true bounce, ideal for stroke play.
• First Innings Advantage: Teams batting first have won 7 out of 11 matches, indicating a significant advantage.
• Average Scores: First innings average score is 174, while the second innings average is 147.
• Bowling: Pacers have been more successful, accounting for 72% of wickets, especially effective in the early overs.
• Spinners: May find some assistance in the middle overs but are generally less effective compared to pacers.​

Also read: MI vs GT : Match 56 Weather and Pitch report IPL 2025

Venue Records:

• Highest Team Total: 210/3 by Multan Sultans against Peshawar Zalmi.
• Lowest Team Total: 110 all out by Quetta Gladiators against Multan Sultans.
• Most Runs: Rilee Rossouw with 375 runs at this venue.
• Best Bowling Figures: Ihsanullah's 5 wickets for 12 runs in 4 overs.​

Given the conditions, winning the toss and opting to bat first could provide a strategic advantage.

In this crucial Match 25 halfway through PSL 2025, Multan Sultans (MUL) will try to use their home state to their advantage to support their playoff bid in this game against Peshawar Zalmi (PES) and its powerful batting lineup on a potentially high-scoring Multan pitch. 

Head-to-Head Record

Multan Sultans (MUL) and Peshawar Zalmi (PES) have faced off 16 times in the PSL since 2018, with MUL dominating the rivalry:

• MUL Wins: 11
• PES Wins: 5
• No Result/Tied: 0
• Win Percentage: MUL has a 68.75% win rate against PES.

MUL has traditionally dominated PES, including winning the PSL 2024 Qualifier by 7 wickets; however, PES came back this season with a huge victory, winning by 120 runs in PSL 2025 Match 9. The Multan Cricket Stadium has a pitch conducive to good batting, so if PES’s big hitters, such as Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris, can get going, then they will be tough to stop. Conversely, MUL has two spinners (Usama Mir and Michael Bracewell) who, if they can find any turn, may be able to sneak in and help their middle order with their variations.

Remarkable Matchups Between MUL and PES

PSL 2025, Match 9—April 19, Rawalpindi (Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium)

• PES: 227/7 (20 overs)
• MUL: 107/10 (15.5 overs)
• Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by 120 runs

PES has scored 227/7, Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 52 off 30, Mohammad Haris scored 45 off 21, and Abdul Samad scored 40 off 14. MUL was 107 all out, with Usman Khan's 44 off 22 the only worth mentioning, when Ali Raza (4 for 21) and Arif Yaqoob (3 for 20) destroyed the top order. Abdul Samad was the Player of the Match for his explosive knock.

Also Read: IPL 2025: SRH vs DC Match 55 - A Head to Head breakdown

PSL 2024, Qualifier (1 v 2)—March 14, Karachi (National Stadium)

• PES: 146/7 (20 overs)
• MUL: 147/3 (18.3 overs)
• Result: Multan Sultans won by 7 wickets

PES scored 146/7, with Babar Azam scoring 46 off 42; however, MUL's quarter infectious Usama Mir (2 wickets) and Chris Jordan confined them. Following that, the chase was easy for MUL; Yasir Khan scored 54, and Usman Khan was there at the end on 36*, along with Iftikhar Ahmed. Usama Mir was the Player of the Match for his performance.

PSL 2021, Final—June 24, Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Stadium)

• MUL: 206/4 (20 overs)
• PES: 159/9 (20 overs)
• Result: Multan Sultans won by 47 runs

MUL scored 206/4, with Sohaib Maqsood scoring 65* off 35 balls and Rilee Rossouw scoring 50 off 21 balls. PES scored 159/9, with Kamran Akmal scoring 36, the top score, while Blessing Muzarabani (2/26) and Sohail Tanvir (3 wickets) performed excellently. Maqsood was the Player of the Match for his match-defining innings.

Back-to-back defeats for PSL 10 table topper Islamabad United (ISL). In match 22 of the tournament, they couldn't get enough hold against Peshawar Zalmi (PES). The ISL vs PES match was neck and neck at a time, but Zalmi took the opportunity to grab all the points. Peshawar won the match by 6 wickets, 20 balls to spare. 

Toss and the first innings 

Shadab Khan, captain of Islamabad United, won the toss and asked Zalmi to bowl first at the Gaddafi Stadium. Khan made the mistake of reading the wicket properly, and they paid the price by losing wickets at regular intervals. The Zalmi bowling unit, led by Mohammad Ali, was collective and working according to their plan. As soon as they took the wicket of ISL opener Sahibzada Farhan, the momentum of the match started to shift. United's midfield was totally clueless in the middle of the park. At the lower middle order, Ben Dwarshuis took his team to a fightable score of 143 with his unbeaten 33. 

Second innings 

Kyle Mayers and Dwarshuis started well with the ball for Islamabad United; both of the foreign cricketers quickly dispatched both of the openers. Zalmi lost 3 wickets in the first 6 overs, and they were in trouble. But Babar Azam was there to carry them to the finish line, accompanied by Maaz Sadaqat. Both of the batters made half centuries each. In the end, a convincing win for Peshawar Zalmi. Along with Babar and Maaz, credit goes to their bowling unit as well. 

Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi full match scoreboard 

Islamabad United- 143/9 (20 Overs)

Peshawar Zalmi- 147

/4 (16.4 Overs)

Match Details:

• Date: May 02 , 2025
• Match: Peshawar Zalmi VS Islamabad United
• Time: 8:30 PM PKT
• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• Win % Batting First: 64%
• Win % Bowling First: 36%

Also read: LAH vs QUE PSL 2025 Match Live streaming: Where & How to watch on TV

Weather and Pitch Conditions:

Weather:

• Temperature: Expected to peak at 41°C (106°F) during the day, cooling to around 21°C (70°F) by evening.
• Conditions: Clear skies with no chance of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted match.
• Humidity: Low, but players should stay hydrated due to the high daytime temperatures.

Pitch:

• Nature: Batting-friendly surface offering true bounce, ideal for stroke play.
• First Innings Advantage: Teams batting first have won 7 out of 11 matches, indicating a significant advantage.
• Average Scores: First innings average score is 174, while the second innings average is 147.
• Bowling: Pacers have been more successful, accounting for 72% of wickets, especially effective in the early overs.
• Spinners: May find some assistance in the middle overs, but generally less effective compared to pacers.

Venue Records: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

• Highest Team Total: 210/3 by Multan Sultans against Peshawar Zalmi
• Lowest Team Total: 110 all out by Quetta Gladiators against Multan Sultans.
• Most Runs: Rilee Rossouw with 375 runs at this venue.
• Best Bowling Figures: Ihsanullah's 5 wickets for 12 runs in 4 overs.

Given the conditions, winning the toss and opting to bat first could provide a strategic advantage.

PSL 10, game 17, Quetta Gladiators (QG) vs Peshawar Zalmi (PES) turned out to be a completely one-sided match. PES, batting second, did not get enough grip to hold the match and lost the match within 16 overs. QG won the match by 62 runs. The Gladiators got back to the winning streak after losing the previous two games with a clinical all-around performance.  

Toss and the first innings

Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi captain, expressed a desire to bowl first after winning the toss; the decision later proved wrong when their batting lineup completely collapsed. Mark Chapman for Quetta Gladiators was the highest scorer for his team with 33, and Saud Shakeel and Kusal Mendis both contributed 32 runs each. Alzarri Joseph took 3 scalps for PES in his 4 overs limit. QG halted on 178 after the 20th over of the first innings.

Second innings

Faheem Ashraf bagged 5 wickets in 3.2 overs in exchange for only 33 runs. QG bowlers did not allow opposition bowlers to settle on Gaddafi Stadium's pitch. Zalmi lost their wickets at regular intervals and failed to make a much-needed partnership, which could have offered them more strength to stand tall against in-form bowlers. Except for Hussain Talat, who scored 39 off 34 deliveries, no one from PES was able to contribute in a meaningful way.

Post-match reactions:

Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi captain): “We made mistakes in both departments and were not up to the mark. We did not execute the plans and lost wickets at regular intervals with the bat. There was help in the pitch early on, but we did not use the conditions well. We made a decent comeback, but the opposition played well."

Saud Shakeel (Quetta Gladiators skipper): "There was grass on the wicket, and the ball was doing a bit. Finn Allen did well with the bat at the top. We wanted to go above 200, but Mark Chapman and Kusal Mendis were finding it hard; they felt that the wicket was not easy."

PSL 10: Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi scorecard

Quetta Gladiators · 178/7 (20 Overs)

 Peshawar Zalmi · 114 (15.2 Overs)

Babar Azam's Peshawar Zalmi (PES) outclassed Saheen Afridi's Lahore Qalandars (LAH) with ease at the Gaddafi Stadium. Qalandars scored only 129 in the first innings, which was easily chased by Zalmi. Babar Azam, with an unbeaten 56, took his team safely home. 

Toss and the first innings 

PES captain Babar Azam decided to bowl first after winning the toss. The pitch was a bit tricky to bat on; bowlers got a lot of help from the surface. Player of the Match Alzarri Joseph took 3 wickets in 4 overs against 15 runs only. Zimbabwe international Sikandar Raza was the lone warrior for LAH, scoring 52 in 37 balls. 

Second inning 

Peshawar Zalmi slowly but steadily built their momentum for chasing the small target. Babar Azam's commanding role with the bat did not allow Qalandars' bowlers to spread their wings. Saheen Afridi took a brace that proved not enough to keep his team relevant in the high-voltage encounter. Babar was well accompanied by Hussain Talat, who got an unbeaten 51 off 37 balls.

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Post-match reactions:

Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi skipper): "Every game is important for us, and there's no room for errors. Our bowling unit did really well in the powerplay. We worked on the plan, and I am happy as our team executed the plan well. We lost a lot of wickets, but I was confident that if the partnership with Hussain Talat continued, it would be easy for us to chase. 

Saheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars skipper): "We changed our batting line a bit. Asif Ali came first to bat as he opened a lot in domestic cricket, so we just wanted to try him as an opening batter, but things didn't work out well for us. Our luck wasn't with us tonight. We will surely make a comeback in the next game."

Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi scoreboard 

Lahore Qalandars- 129/10 (19.2)

Peshawar Zalmi- 133/3 (16.4 Overs)