By Nawaz Gohar ;  Karachi Kings delivered a masterclass in aggressive pursuit on Saturday night, overwhelming the Quetta Gladiators by nine wickets in the 37th match of HBL PSL 11. The victory at Gaddafi Stadium was a double-edged sword; while it kept the Kings’ playoff aspirations alive, it effectively served as a knockout blow to Quetta’s tournament campaign.

Chasing a formidable 196 for victory, Karachi executed a batting display of rare clinical precision. They overhauled the target with ease, finishing at 199/1 with nine balls to spare.

The narrative of the chase was written by a breathtaking, unbeaten 141-run partnership between captain David Warner and the prolific Reeza Hendricks. The duo dismantled a shell-shocked Quetta bowling attack with a blend of surgical precision and raw power.

The innings began with a brisk 58-run opening stand between Warner and Jason Roy. Roy looked dangerous, contributing a rapid 20 off 15 balls before falling to Jahandad Khan. However, his departure only paved the way for Hendricks, who joined Warner to shift the game into overdrive.

Warner, leading by example, notched his sixth half-century of the season with a sensational 89 off 48 balls*, decorated with 10 boundaries and four towering sixes. Hendricks was no less destructive, matching his captain’s pace to finish on an unbeaten 87 off 48 deliveries, including eight fours and four sixes.

The pair navigated the chase with such authority that the 100 and 150-run milestones passed almost unnoticed, culminating in a celebratory finish in the 19th over.

Earlier, the Quetta Gladiators posted what appeared to be a competitive 195/6, though it was an innings of two halves. The start was catastrophic; Hasan Ali struck twice in the opening over, dismissing Shamyl Hussain and Khawaja Nafay for ducks to leave Quetta reeling at 1/2.

What followed was a rescue act for the ages. Rilee Rossouw and captain Saud Shakeel orchestrated a stunning 148-run counterattack. Rossouw was in vintage form, bludgeoning 90 off 54 balls—an innings featuring six massive sixes and eight boundaries. Shakeel played the perfect foil, contributing a sophisticated 57 off 34 balls.

The momentum shifted back to Karachi in the 15th over when Rizwanullah finally broke the deadlock, dismissing Shakeel. Rossouw’s valiant effort ended shortly after at the hands of Abbas Afridi, triggering a middle-order stutter.

While Dinesh Chandimal provided a late flourish with a 17-ball 30, the Gladiators lost crucial wickets at the death, preventing them from crossing the 200-run psychological barrier. Karachi’s bowling trio of Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Rizwanullah were the architects of this containment, picking up two wickets apiece.

Ultimately, Quetta’s early vulnerabilities and lack of depth in the final overs proved fatal. In contrast, Karachi Kings head into the business end of the tournament with significant momentum, having proven they possess the firepower to chase down any target.

For the Gladiators, it is a premature exit from a season that showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the consistency required for the knockout stages. For the Kings, the hunt for the trophy continues.

By Nawaz Gohar ;  In a night of shattered records and batting brilliance, Peshawar Zalmi continued their relentless march at the summit of HBL PSL 11, securing a commanding seven-wicket victory over Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium. The win was fueled by a masterclass from Kusal Mendis and a historic, game-changing hat-trick by 18-year-old pace sensation Ali Raza.

Chasing a formidable target of 183, Peshawar Zalmi appeared to be in a spot of bother at 67-3 after the departures of Babar Azam (25), James Vince (16), and Aaron Hardie. However, the game shifted gears when Kusal Mendis was joined by young Farhan Yousaf.

The duo orchestrated a magnificent, unbroken 119-run partnership that took the game away from Karachi. Mendis was in sublime touch, smashing an unbeaten 80 off just 43 deliveries, decorated with five boundaries and four towering sixes. In doing so, he not only secured his third Player of the Match award of the season but also moved within striking distance of Fakhar Zaman’s single-season scoring record.

At the other end, Farhan Yousaf—fresh off leading Pakistan in the U19 World Cup—proved he belongs on the big stage. He struck a maiden HBL PSL half-century, finishing 58* off 36 balls, fittingly sealing the win with a elegant slice over cover point with seven balls to spare.

Earlier in the evening, the Karachi Kings seemed poised for a massive total at 161-3. However, the final over belonged to the history books. 18-year-old Ali Raza produced a display of raw pace and pinpoint accuracy that left the Kings’ tail in tatters.

After a run-out on a wide delivery, Raza clinicaly dismantled the lower order with a legitimate hat-trick across the final three balls of the innings: Khushdil Shah was forced into a hit-wicket dismissal.
Shahid Aziz was beaten for pace by a searing yorker.
Hasan Ali saw his stumps shattered by a 149.1 kph thunderbolt.

With this feat, Raza became the youngest player ever to take a hat-trick in HBL PSL history and the youngest Pakistani to do so in T20 cricket, surpassing Mohammad Hasnain’s 2019 record. He finished with figures of 4-41.

The collapse overshadowed a brilliant platform laid by Jason Roy, who hammered a classy 85 off 51 balls. Roy, alongside Azam Khan (35 off 19), had put the Kings in a position of strength with a 63-run stand. During the innings, Hasan Ali also made history by overtaking Shaheen Shah Afridi to become the leading wicket-taker in HBL PSL history with 137 scalps, though the milestone offered little consolation in a losing cause.

With this victory, Peshawar Zalmi remains comfortably atop the table with 17 points from nine matches. Conversely, the Karachi Kings find themselves languishing at seventh place, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread with only two matches remaining in their campaign.

Scores in Brief:
Karachi Kings: 182-9 (20 overs); Jason Roy 85, Azam Khan 35; Ali Raza 4-41.
Peshawar Zalmi: 186-3 (18.5 overs); Kusal Mendis 80*, Farhan Yousaf 58*, Babar Azam 25.
Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by 7 wickets.

Lahore, Karachi Kings have officially announced the induction of experienced leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood into the squad for the remainder of HBL PSL 11.

Mahmood, known for his sharp turn and deceptive googly, has been a part of Kings’ squad in 2024 and 2025 seasons too. With the tournament entering its business end, his ability to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs is expected to be a vital asset for the franchise.

The Kings currently sit at six points after seven matches. Karachi Kings will play match their next match against Peshawar Zalmi tomorrow at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

By Nawaz Gohar : Arafat Minhas produced a match-winning all-round display as Multan Sultans beat Karachi Kings by 11 runs in Match 28 of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

The 21-year-old claimed three for 32 including the prized scalps of Jason Roy and Salman Ali Agha in the powerplay and effected two run outs in the field. He also struck a handy 17 off 12 balls lower down the order as Multan consolidated second place on the standings with 10 points from seven matches.

Karachi slipped to seventh after a fourth consecutive defeat as they managed 196 all out in 19.4 overs in reply to Multan’s 207 for seven in 20 overs. Mohammad Abbas Afridi’s blistering 34 off 16 balls and Hasan Ali’s 23 from 10 deliveries threatened to pull off a remarkable heist in the final overs but their eighth-wicket stand of 25 came too late as Multan held their nerve at the death.

While chasing, Karachi lost Roy for 16 in the third over caught off Arafat who then bowled Salman for two in the fifth over. Saad Baig made 21 from 15 balls before falling to Peter Siddle caught by Muhammad Imran as Karachi found themselves 47 for three inside the powerplay.

Reeza Hendricks and Moeen Ali rebuilt with a 67-run fourth-wicket stand that briefly gave Karachi hope. Hendricks struck five fours and two sixes in his 32-ball 49 before falling one short of a half-century, caught off Muhammad Imran. Moeen contributed 27 from 23 balls with two sixes before Ashton Turner had him caught by Imran in the 15th over with the scoreboard reading 129 for five.

Khushdil Shah fell for four to Momin Qamar (3-0-25-1) and Arafat returned to trap Shahid Aziz leg-before-wicket for a duck as Karachi slumped to 160 for seven in 16.4 overs. Abbas then counter-attacked with three fours and two sixes in his 16-ball cameo while Hasan struck two sixes in a 10-ball blitz to bring the equation down to 22 from the final 11 balls.

Siddle (4-0-28-2) ended Abbas’s resistance in the penultimate over before Arafat ran out both Adam Zampa and Hasan in quick succession to seal the win for the Sultans.

Earlier, Multan were put in to bat and lost Steve Smith for a duck in the second over, falling to Khushdil Shah. Debutant Muhammad Awais Zafar (36, 27b, 5x4s, 1×6) and Philippe put on 66 for the second wicket before Khushdil (4-0-35-3) struck again to bowl Philippe for a quickfire 44 from 23 balls including five fours and two sixes.

Shan Masood then took charge with 46 from 25 balls striking three fours and three sixes before being stumped by Saad Baig off Moeen Ali (4-0-30-2) in the 14th over. Awais fell shortly after as the scoreboard read 121 for three after 12.1 overs.

Multan’s innings lost momentum briefly through the middle overs as Turner made 11 and Arafat 17 (2x4s) before Imran launched a sensational late assault. The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 26 from just eight balls with two fours and two sixes while Mohammad Wasim Jnr chipped in with an unbeaten seven as the pair plundered 33 from the final 11 deliveries to lift Multan past 200.

By Nawaz Gohar ;  Islamabad United extended their extraordinary head-to-head dominance over Karachi Kings, registering an 11th consecutive victory since February 2021.

The eight-wicket thumping at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday was more than just a win; it was a statement of hierarchy in the second match of the PSL’s Pink Ribbon Day double-header.

Pursuing a target of 151—a total that looked competitive on paper but proved meager on grass—United’s opening pair of Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway made a mockery of the Kings’ bowling attack. The duo orchestrated a 93-run opening stand that essentially settled the contest within the powerplay.

Young sensation Sameer Minhas was the protagonist of the evening, blending raw aggression with technical elegance. He blazed his way to a 36-ball 58, punctuated by 10 crisp boundaries. On the other end, the veteran Devon Conway provided the perfect foil, anchoring the chase with a serene, unbeaten 53 off 36 balls. After Sameer’s departure, skipper Shadab Khan (31* off 16) added a late flourish of power-hitting, ensuring United crossed the finish line with a staggering 24 balls to spare.

Earlier, Karachi Kings—led by stand-in skipper Moeen Ali—struggled to find momentum after being put in to bat. Despite the high-profile debut of Jason Roy, who looked threatening during his 27-ball 39, the Kings’ innings was characterized by a lack of urgency in the middle overs.

Reeza Hendricks played a lone hand with an unbeaten 51, but his 44-ball vigil lacked the explosive finish required to challenge United’s deep batting lineup. The Kings were further stifled by an inspired Islamabad bowling unit. Richard Gleeson (2-22) was the pick of the seamers, while Shadab Khan (2-28) showcased his tactical brilliance by removing Roy and Salman Ali Agha just as the partnership looked to threaten.

The match also highlighted United’s superior fielding standards. Sameer Minhas complemented his batting heroics with two spectacular catches, including a diving effort to dismiss Azam Khan and a breathtaking relay catch at the boundary to remove Khushdil Shah.

Off the field, the cricket fraternity united under the #GoPink banner, with the hashtag trending globally as players and officials raised awareness for breast cancer. The atmosphere in Karachi was electric, yet the result remained frustratingly familiar for the home crowd.

With this victory, Islamabad United leapfrog to second place on the table with nine points. Conversely, Karachi Kings find themselves in a precarious fifth position, having lost three matches on the trot since the tournament moved to the port city.

Brief Scores ; 
Islamabad United: 153-2, 16 overs (Sameer Minhas 58, Devon Conway 53*, Shadab Khan 31*; Moeen Ali 1-22, Hasan Ali 1-28) by 8 wickets beat Karachi Kings: 150-6, 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 51*, Jason Roy 39, Azam Khan 34; Richard Gleeson 2-22, Shadab Khan 2-28)

By Nawaz Gohar ; Peshawar Zalmi delivered a performance for the ages at the National Bank Stadium, crushing rivals Karachi Kings by a record-breaking 159 runs in Match 17 of HBL PSL 11.

Powered by a historic century from Kusal Mendis and a world-record milestone from Babar Azam, the Zalmi posted a mammoth 246/3 before skittling Karachi for just 87.

The evening belonged to the duo of Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam. Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to score an HBL PSL century, blasting 109 off 52 balls (14 fours, 4 sixes). Alongside his captain, Mendis shared a monumental 191-run second-wicket partnership—the highest for any wicket in the league’s history—surpassing the 176-run record set by Babar and Sharjeel Khan in 2021.

During the innings, Babar Azam (87 off 51)* etched his name into global cricket history by becoming the fastest player to reach 12,000 T20 runs. Reaching the milestone in his 338th innings,

he eclipsed Chris Gayle’s long-standing record of 345 innings. The onslaught was completed by a sensational cameo from Abdul Samad, who struck 40 off just 12 balls* (SR 333.33) to propel Peshawar to 246/3—the highest total ever recorded at the National Bank Stadium.

Karachi Kings’ chase was derailed before it could begin. Iftikhar Ahmed (3-9) set the tone by striking on the third ball of the innings. He was perfectly supported by Shoriful Islam, who removed David Warner for a duck in the second over. At 8/3, the Kings’ pursuit was effectively over.

While Azam Khan offered brief resistance with a 27-ball 25, the Zalmi youth brigade took over. Nahid Rana (3-7) was lethal with his pace, while left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim (3-18) bamboozled the middle order. The final six wickets fell for a meager 22 runs, with Karachi eventually bundled out for 87 in 16.1 overs.

The result elevates Peshawar Zalmi to second in the standings with a formidable net run-rate of +2.87, while the Kings slide to fourth place.

Scores in Brief
Peshawar Zalmi: 246-3 (20 overs) (Kusal Mendis 109, Babar Azam 87*, Abdul Samad 40*; Abbas Afridi 2-55) beat Karachi Kings: 87 all out (16.1 overs) (Azam Khan 25, Saad Baig 14; Nahid Rana 3-7, Iftikhar Ahmed 3-9, Sufyan Moqim 3-18) by 159 runs.

Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi)

By Nawaz Gohar ; Karachi Kings captain David Warner, who had traveled from Pakistan to Australia for just a five-day break, was arrested and jailed by Sydney police today for driving under the influence (DUI).

It appears this may have been a calculated move; one wonders what the “emergency” was that required such a brief trip, suggesting he may have had no intention of returning to Pakistan. This seems to be a pre-planned drama.

The Karachi Kings management should contact him, leave him there, and appoint a young player as captain—especially considering Warner is already a retired player.

LAHORE : The Karachi Kings have officially turned back the clock. For the first time since 2018, the franchise has opened an HBL PSL season with three consecutive victories, repeating a feat that has eluded them for nearly a decade.

The historic moment was sealed tonight at the Gaddafi Stadium in a high-octane encounter against the Rawalpindiz. After already taking down Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars earlier in the season, the Kings faced their steepest challenge yet, successfully hunting down a massive target of 198.

The middle order held their nerve, crossing the finish line with four balls to spare to secure the hat-trick of wins.

The last time the “City of Lights” enjoyed this kind of early-season dominance was during HBL PSL 3 (2018).

Now sitting comfortably at the top of the HBL PSL 11 table, the 2020 champions finally look like a clinical, transformed unit. With the tournament set to move to their home turf in Karachi next week, the momentum is firmly behind them as they look to turn this “repeat of history” into a second title.

Lahore : Karachi Kings got over the line against Lahore Qalandars in a 129-run chase with four wickets in hand and three balls to spare as the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 saw out its second of the 12 double-headers here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night.

After an impressive display of spin bowling from player of the match Adam Zampa with a spell of 2-11 including a maiden in four overs and two wickets each for Mir Hamza and Moeen Ali, opening batter Muhammad Waseem (38, 37b, 3x4s) and Kings’ lower order held tight to deliver a second win on the trot for the 2020 Champions.

For Qalandars, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 4-11 and Abdullah Shafique’s 33 – one of the only two thirties in the game – went in vain after they managed to stay in the run till penultimate over of chase and threatened to overtake Islamabad United’s 10-year long record of second-lowest total successfully defended in HBL PSL.

Lowest total successfully defended in the HBL PSL history is 126 by Karachi Kings against Islamabad United in 2017 at Sharjah.

In the chase, Khushdil Shah (13, 14b, 1×4) and Azam Khan (14 not out, 12b, 1×4) stitched a crucial 25-ball 32-run stand for the sixth wicket after Shaheen Shah Afridi landed a double blow in the 15th over removing Waseem and Moeen Ali (18, 21b, 2x4s) to leave Karachi Kings 88-5.

While Kings required 41 off 30 balls, Usama Mir and Mustafizur Rahman delivered back-to-back five run overs as the required run rate crept up above 10. Azam struck Haris Rauf for a crucial four off the last ball of 18th over to sneak a total of eight across the six balls.

Mustafizur, who finished with figures of 1-20 off his four overs, was struck for a four on the first ball of 19th over by Khushdil with Kings collecting five singles on the remaining balls.

With 14 left off the final six balls, the Qalandars were penalised for five runs for violating HBL PSL 11 playing conditions pertaining to condition of the ball. Khushdil holed out to Sikandar Raza, who took a magnificent boundary catch at the cow corner, off Haris Rauf on the first ball of the last over with nine runs needed to win.

Muhammad Abbas Afridi showcased his hard-hitting skills on the next two balls after Haris delivered a wide. Abbas slammed a full toss delivery straight down the ground for four and followed it up with a six to take Kings home.

Earlier, Shaheen led from front with the new ball removing David Warner and Salman Ali Agha in a space of three deliveries in his third over after which Ubaid Shah bowled a maiden to leave Kings 11-2 in four overs.

Waseem kept one end intact with his dogged approach putting on a 29-run stand with Saad Baig (19, 21b, 3x4s) and a 43-run stand with Moeen Ali before Shaheen brought his team back in the contest.

Ubaid Shah remained wicketless in his three overs giving away 11 runs, while Haris and Mustafizur were the other two wicket-taker apart from Shaheen.

At the beginning of the match, Lahore Qalandars opted to bat first and lost Fakhar Zaman – stumped – to Moeen Ali in first over and Mohammad Naeem – caught and bowled – to Mir Hamza in fourth over with 28 runs on the board.

At this juncture, Abdullah’s 24-ball 33 kept the scoreboard ticking in a 28-run stand with Parvez Hussain Emon (12, 12b, 1×6).

Abdullah became Zampa’s first victim at the end of eighth over after which Haseebullah (28, 30b, 1×4, 1×6) and Sikandar (19, 21b, 1×4, 1×6) got together and registered the highest stand of the game worth 43 off 38 balls.

Qalandars slid from 105-4 in 14.2 overs to 128-9 in 20, losing five for 23 as Abbas, Hasan Ali, Zampa, Moeen and Mir Hamza all struck.

Match 6: Karachi Kings beat Lahore Qalandars by four wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Lahore Qalandars 128-9, 20 overs (Abdullah Shafique 33, Haseebullah 28, Sikandar Raza 19; Adam Zampa 2-11, Mir Hamza 2-14, Moeen Ali 2-31)

Karachi Kings 131-6, 19.3 overs (Muhammad Waseem 38, Saad Baig 19, Moeen Ali 18; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-18)

Player of the match – Adam Zampa (Karachi Kings)

Karachi, 22 March 2026 ; Karachi Kings have announced the signing of right handed batter Haroon Arshad for HBL Pakistan Super League Season 11.

Haroon was most recently applying his craft in the National T20 Cup for Karachi Whites. He has featured in just 4 T20s in his young career where he averages 61 striking at 125 plus. Haroon is a local boy who is brimming with potential, and Karachi Kings are excited to add him to their roster.

Karachi Kings will kick off their HBL PSL 11 campaign on March 27, 2026, in Lahore, facing Quetta Gladiators in their first match.