Lahore Qalandars Knock Out Zalmi, Playoffs Set

Lahore Qalandars secured a place in the PSL X playoffs by defeating Peshawar Zalmi in a rain-shortened, 13-over match in Rawalpindi, with Fakhar Zaman scoring 60 and Salman Mirza taking four wickets, resulting in Zalmi's first-ever elimination from playoff contention. Earlier, Karachi Kings clinched their playoff berth with a record total, powered by a 162-run partnership between David Warner and James Vince, and important late contributions from Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nabi. Despite Babar Azam's 94, Zalmi's playoff hopes ended after two defeats. Islamabad United also advanced to the playoffs, making the knockout stage highly competitive. The final playoff teams are Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Islamabad United. The matches were played amid heightened excitement following the league's resumption after military tensions, with attendance by military and cricket officials.