Islamabad United Start PSL 2025 with Convincing Win Over Lahore Qalandars

The new season of the Pakistan Super League opened with a statement from Islamabad United, showing they’re in it to win. They faced Lahore Qalandars at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on April 11, 2025, and the result was clear—Islamabad bagged a commanding 8-wicket victory to get their campaign rolling.

It all began when Islamabad’s captain called the toss correctly and put the Qalandars in to bat. Lahore seemed jittery from the start, with the Rawalpindi pitch offering a little something for the fast bowlers. Islamabad’s attack got right down to business. Jason Holder, even without wickets against his name, kept things menacing and tight. His length and movement kept the run-scoring in check, especially during those tense powerplay overs, making sure Lahore never settled into a rhythm.

But one batter who stood out for the Qalandars was Abdullah Shafique. He wasn’t afraid to play his shots, handling the pressure with a classy 66 off just 38 balls. He looked set for something bigger but ran out of partners, as wickets tumbled at the other end. Much of the credit goes to Islamabad’s disciplined bowling. Naseem Shah’s raw pace and Riley Meredith’s consistency made sure that breakthroughs came at crucial moments. The Qalandars were bundled out for 139 in just 19.2 overs—a total that always felt under par given the conditions and Islamabad’s strong batting lineup.

Munro, Agha Lead Dominant Chase as Holder, Bowlers Set the Tone

The chase had few hiccups. Islamabad lost an early wicket, but Colin Munro came in and made his intentions clear with some audacious strokes. He built a solid partnership with Salman Agha, and the two didn’t let the required run rate become an issue. Munro’s knock of 59 from 42 balls set the tempo for the innings—he was in control, picking gaps and punishing anything loose. On the other end, Salman Agha provided perfect support with patient shot selection and 41 runs off 34 balls. Their partnership dazzled the home crowd, and Lahore’s bowlers had no clear answers.

Lahore did try to find openings, but Islamabad’s batters never offered any breathing space. The scoreboard pressure just kept mounting, and Islamabad reached 143 for 2 in only 17.4 overs. A double-digit win and a message to the rest of the league—it’s not going to be easy to get past this United unit.

Despite the scoreline, many eyes were on Jason Holder. He didn’t bag a wicket this time, yet his disciplined bowling ensured that Islamabad’s fielders always had their tails up and made the Qalandars’ batters work for every single run. Teammates Naseem Shah and Riley Meredith’s breakthroughs would simply not have happened without the relentless pressure Holder created early on.

This opening clash of PSL 2025 didn’t just serve up cricket. It gave Islamabad fans hope and Lahore reasons to reconsider their strategies, especially up the batting order. The tournament has only just begun, but the tone has already been set.