PSL 11 playoff grid finalized: Islamabad United secure crucial Qualifier spot
By Nawaz Gohar ; The stage is set for the business end of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. Following a hard-fought four-wicket victory by Islamabad United over Multan Sultans in the final league-stage encounter, the playoff brackets have been officially confirmed.
While the four advancing teams had been decided earlier in the day—sparked by the Hyderabad Kingsmen’s historic 108-run thrashing of the Rawalpindiz—the Sunday night thriller at the National Bank Stadium was a battle for the “second life.” With a top-two finish at stake, both United and the Sultans fought for the right to play the Qualifier.
Choosing to field first, Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan watched as Multan Sultans posted a formidable 192/7. However, United’s batting depth proved too much to handle.
The three-time champions chased down the 193-run target with eight balls to spare, finishing second on the table and securing a high-profile meeting with league leaders Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier this Tuesday.
The defeat means Multan Sultans have slipped to third place. They must now take the longer route to the final, facing the debutant Kingsmen in a “do-or-die” Eliminator 1 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
The playoff structure offers a significant advantage to the top two finishers:
The Qualifier (Tuesday, Karachi): Peshawar Zalmi vs. Islamabad United. The winner marches directly into the Grand Finale.
Eliminator 1 (Wednesday, Lahore): Multan Sultans vs. Hyderabad Kingsmen. The loser goes home; the winner lives to fight another day.
Eliminator 2 (May 1, Lahore): The loser of the Qualifier will face the winner of Eliminator 1 for the remaining spot in the final.
The ultimate showdown is scheduled for May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium, where the two surviving giants will battle for the PSL 11 crown.
