Islamabad United kicked off the Pakistan Super League 2025 with a bang, beating Lahore Qalandars by 8 wickets in the season opener. The match, held in Rawalpindi, saw Islamabad’s Colin Munro and Salman Agha shine with the bat, while Jason Holder and Shadab Khan impressed with the ball.
Lahore Qalandars batted first, scoring 139 in 19.2 overs. Shahzaib Shafique was their top scorer with 66 off 38 balls, including 6 fours and 3 sixes. Sikandar Raza added 23 off 21 balls. However, Lahore’s other batters struggled, with Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem failing to make an impact.
Strong Bowling from Islamabad
Islamabad’s bowlers were instrumental in restricting Lahore’s score. Jason Holder took 4 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs, while Shadab Khan claimed 3 wickets for 25 runs in 3.2 overs. Naseem Shah, Reiley Meredith, and Imad Wasim also chipped in with a wicket each.
The target of 140 was chased down by Islamabad with ease. Although Sahibzada Farhan (25) and Andrie Gous (4) didn’t make a big impact at the top of the order, Colin Munro and Salman Agha steadied the ship. Munro scored 59 off 42 balls, hitting 7 fours and 1 six. Salman Agha was unbeaten on 41, helping Islamabad win comfortably.
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more exciting matches. The second match of PSL 2025 will feature Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi. On Saturday, Karachi Kings will take on Multan Sultans in the third match of the season.
Glimpses from the post-match ceremony 📸
#ApnaXHai l #HBLPSLX l #IUvLQ pic.twitter.com/LzRhuyPkh8
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 11, 2025
