The tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was expected to rekindle the nation’s passion for cricket, but it has instead stumbled out of the blocks, struggling to captivate fans still reeling from Pakistan’s dismal tour of New Zealand.
That tour, which ended in a 4-1 T20I and 3-0 ODI thrashing, has cast a long shadow. The national side's poor form seems to have dampened enthusiasm for the league, with muted crowds reflecting the nation’s cricketing hangover. In Karachi, attendance figures told the story: the opener had a third of the stadium empty, while the second game barely filled half the seats.
The tournament kicked off in Rawalpindi on 11 April with a vibrant ceremony, complete with music and fireworks. However, the opening clash between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars fell flat in comparison.
The Qalandars posted a lacklustre 139 all out, undone by West Indian pacer Jason Holder (4-26) and leg-spinner Shadab Khan (3-25). Abdullah Shafique’s 66 was the lone highlight in an otherwise disappointing innings. United made light work of the chase, coasting home in the 18th over thanks to solid knocks from Salman Agha (59) and a steady 41*.
Islamabad United have since looked a cut above the rest. They crushed Peshawar Zalmi by 102 runs and outclassed Multan Sultans by 47, asserting their dominance at their Rawalpindi home ground. Holder, making his debut on Pakistani soil, has been sensational with both bat and ball. He tops the bowling charts with nine wickets in three matches, while Shadab — looking to reclaim his mojo after a poor international run — follows with six.
Another standout for United is opener Sahibzada Farhan. Surprisingly ignored in the draft despite amassing 605 runs and three centuries in the recent National T20 Cup, he was picked as a replacement—and wasted no time proving his worth. A blistering 106 off 52 balls against Zalmi followed by another aggressive half-century against Multan has cemented his place as one to watch.
With three wins from three, Islamabad appear well on course for a playoff berth—barring an unexpected dip in form.
Elsewhere, the Karachi Kings have produced performances that mirror the inconsistency of the national side. In their opener, they chased down a daunting 235 against Multan thanks to a sparkling century from James Vince and a composed fifty by Khushdil Shah. But they faltered badly in their next outing, collapsing for 136 in response to Lahore’s 202.
Karachi’s hopes rest on the shoulders of David Warner, but the former Australian star has struggled on Karachi’s slow, low pitches. The franchise will be banking on him to find form soon.
Lahore Qalandars, meanwhile, have bounced back strongly after their opening defeat. Convincing wins over Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings have revived their campaign. Shaheen Shah Afridi is rediscovering his rhythm, claiming early wickets in back-to-back games. Fakhar Zaman’s return from injury is another boost, particularly with the T20 World Cup just ten months away.
On the other hand, Peshawar Zalmi have stumbled badly. With back-to-back losses and a dismal net run-rate of -4.5, they are already in trouble. Babar Azam’s form—or lack thereof—is a concern. Scores of 0 and 1 haven’t helped his team’s cause, and a misfiring pace attack is only compounding their woes.
Quetta Gladiators have been a mixed bag. Though they won their opening fixture, their form has wavered. Captain Saud Shakeel admitted they may have miscalculated in team selection.
Only seven matches have been played so far, and it’s far too early to draw conclusions. In a tournament as volatile as the PSL, early stumbles or surges rarely tell the full story. That said, Islamabad United have clearly set the early benchmark—and it’s up to the rest to catch up.
