KARACHI: Defending champions Quetta Gladiators kicked off the fifth edition of the PSL in style as they cruised to a win over Islamabad United in the tournament opener on Thursday. Chasing 169 on a balmy Karachi night, the Gladiators reached their target with nine balls and three wickets to spare.
On a historic day when the PSL finally arrived for a full season in Pakistan, another unsavory aspect of Pakistani cricket history cropped up at the start. Former international batsman and Quetta Gladiators’ player Umer Akmal was suspended as the day began, with an investigation pending into alleged fixing. But despite that bombshell, Quetta sounded confident after they won the toss and chose to field.
The official start was delayed after a spectacular, if rather long, opening ceremony came to a circuitous end. But the cricket was off to a cracker, as Quetta took a wicket first ball with Mohammad Nawaz dismissing Colin Munro off his own bowling. Islamabad United however, the league’s most successful side with two trophies, took that loss in their stride. With Dawid Malan cracking big shots, the team from the capital threatened a massive score as they reached the halfway point at 95/2.
Enter Mohammad Hasnain. One of several irresistible young pacers that the league has thrown up over the years, the Karachi native was ferociously fast as he ripped out four wickets in a superb spell. The chalk to his cheese was Ben Cutting, the overseas bowler, who kept taking pace off the ball as he added three crucial wickets to his account. It meant that United collapsed in slow-motion, losing their final eight wickets for just 73 runs and failing to play out their 20 overs.
In reply, Islamabad United initially threatened to have their own young pacer, Musa Khan, take the game away. On a night where the pacers outbowled the spinners, Musa led the way as Quetta lost three quick wickets for next to nothing. But then, yet another youngster decided it was going to be his day.
Azam Khan, son of former captain and Quetta coach Moin Khan, had walked out to bat with jeers and shouts of “parchi,” a reference to his father being among those who selected the side. But the portly batter played, a spectacular innings, hitting sixes for fun. Batting first with his captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and then with Mohammad Nawaz in two crucial partnerships, Azam’s effortless innings meant the match quickly ended as a contest. A flurry of late wickets briefly threatened some drama, but it never came to be.
For Islamabad United, this won’t be a time to panic. The team are notoriously slow starters and have often begun the PSL with weak performances. However, the team’s strength had always been their bowling yet the lack of experience in today’s lineup would be a concern. Captain Shadab Khan would be counting on veteran overseas star Dale Steyn to make his impact count when he joins the side midway through the tournament.
Ultimately though, the occasion was about far more than cricket. Over 10 years after cricket was exiled from Pakistan, Thursday marked its grandest return. Regardless of the outcome, the very holding of this tournament is a huge win for the country.
Young stars light up PSL opener
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Young stars light up PSL opener
- Over 10 years after cricket was exiled from Pakistan, Thursday marked its grandest return
- United collapsed in slow-motion, losing their final eight wickets for just 73 runs and failing to play out their 20 overs
Pakistan saw 73% increase in combat-related deaths in 2025— think tank
- Pakistan reported 3,387 deaths thus year, among them 2,115 militants and 664 security forces personnel, says think tank
- Civilian deaths increased by 24% to 580 in 2025, compared to 468 in 2024, as Pakistan saw 1,063 militant attacks in 2025
ISLAMABAD: Combat-related deaths in Pakistan this year increased by 73%, with both security forces and militants suffering casualties in large numbers, a report published by an Islamabad-based think tank said on Sunday.
As per statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), combat-related deaths in 2025 rose 73% to 3,387, compared with 1,950 in 2024. These deaths included 2,115 militants, 664 security forces personnel, 580 civilians and 28 members of pro-government peace committees (combatants), the think tank said in a press release.
“Militants accounted for about 62% of total combat-related deaths, and their 2,115 fatalities represented the highest annual militant death toll since 2015, when 2,322 militants were killed,” PICSS said.
Compared to last year, militant deaths recorded a steep increase by 122% as the PICSS reported that 951 militants had been killed in 2024.
The think tank, however, said this year was also particularly bloody for Pakistani security forces. PICSS recorded 664 security personnel deaths in 2025, a 26% rise from 528 in 2024, and the highest annual figure since 2011, when 677 security forces personnel lost their lives.
Civilian deaths also increased by 24% to 580 in 2025, compared with 468 in 2024, marking the highest annual civilian toll since 2015, when 642 civilians were killed.
As per the PICSS report, at least 1,063 militant attacks took place in 2025, a 17% increase compared with 908 in 2024 and the highest annual total since 2014, when 1,609 militant attacks were recorded.
The report also noted a 53 percent increase in suicide attacks this year, with 26 such incidents reported in 2025 compared with 17 in 2024.
“PICSS noted an expanding trend in the use of small drones, including quadcopters, with 33 such incidents recorded during 2025, alongside increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles by security forces,” the report said.
The report noted an 83% rise in arrests of suspected militants, with 497 arrested in 2025 compared to 272 in 2024.
This 2025 figure is the highest annual total of suspected militants arrested since 2017, when 1,781 militants were either arrested or laid down their weapons.
“PICSS noted that most violence remained concentrated in Pashtun-majority districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the tribal districts (erstwhile FATA), and in Balochistan,” it said.
Pakistan has been grappling with a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both bordering Afghanistan, this year.
Islamabad blames Afghanistan for providing sanctuaries to militants it alleges use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the charges.
