Sikandar Raza PSL Final 2025 : Zimbabwe’s tour of England wrapped up sooner than expected. The four-day Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, scheduled to end on Sunday, May 25, concluded a day early with the hosts clinching a dominant win. Amid Zimbabwe’s struggles, one man stood tall Sikandar Raza. His gritty 60-run knock in the second innings offered a glimmer of resistance, but it was only the beginning of a dramatic 24 hours for the all-rounder.
While one game ended, another far more dramatic chapter was about to begin for Raza. Thousands of miles away in Lahore, his Pakistan Super League side, the Lahore Qalandars, were gearing up for the PSL final. Originally, Raza wasn’t expected to be part of it. He was supposed to watch the game from afar. But when Zimbabwe’s Test ended early, a narrow window opened and Raza seized it with both hands.
With barely any time to spare, Raza made a bold call. He packed up, hopped into a friend’s car, and rushed to Birmingham Airport. There were no direct flights to Lahore, and the first flight out didn’t have business class seats. That didn’t bother him. He grabbed an economy ticket to Dubai and started his cross-continental sprint.
The journey was far from smooth. After a layover, he had to switch airports and catch another flight to Lahore via Abu Dhabi. By the time he landed in Pakistan, his teammates were already out for the toss at Gaddafi Stadium. Raza was still making his way through the traffic from the airport to the ground.
Despite jet lag and travel exhaustion, Raza arrived just in time minutes before the first ball was bowled. No warm-up, no breather, yet no complaints. He took the field, and with ball in hand, delivered a crucial spell, conceding 43 runs in his four overs and grabbing a wicket.
But the real magic came with the bat.
The PSL final went down to the wire. Lahore, chasing 202, needed eight runs off the final three deliveries. Raza, cool under pressure, stepped up. He sent one ball soaring over midwicket for six, then carved a boundary to seal the title. His 22 not out from just seven balls, including two boundaries and two towering sixes, turned the match on its head.
Earlier in the evening, Quetta Gladiators had posted a challenging total of 201 for 9. Hasan Nawaz anchored their innings with a blistering 76 off 43, smashing eight boundaries and four sixes. Lahore’s skipper Shaheen Afridi led with the ball, scalping three wickets while giving away only 24 runs in his four overs.
Lahore’s chase was anchored by Kusal Perera, who played a match-winning innings of 62 not out off 31 balls. His knock included five boundaries and four sixes, laying the foundation for Raza’s finishing act.
This wasn’t just another T20 final. It was a testament to determination and love for the game. In under 24 hours, Raza transitioned from whites in Nottingham to coloured kits in Lahore. He crossed continents, dodged exhaustion, and delivered under pressure. Not every day does a player play a Test match and a T20 final within such a short span and influence both with standout performances.
Sikandar Raza didn’t just make headlines; he etched a story of passion, grit, and resilience. A true warrior of modern cricket, he reminded fans why we love this game for moments that defy logic and fuel dreams.