KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi achieved another record run chase in beating Quetta Gladiators by three wickets to continue the batsmen’s domination of bowlers in the Pakistan Super League on Friday.
Multan Sultans earlier registered their first win when they beat Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets. All of the eight round-robin matches so far have been won by the teams batting second.
Peshawar chased down a record 194-run target to beat Multan in its second game and bettered that in reaching 202-7 in 19.3 overs against Quetta.
Quetta, which has lost all three tosses and batted first, achieved the league’s highest total of 198-7 on the back of captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s blistering 81 off 40 balls.
But even with South Africa’s experienced Dale Steyn (2-44) and Faf du Plessis (37), they couldn’t change Quetta’s fortunes as they lost a third consecutive game and are without a point.
Peshawar was served by Haider Ali, 50 off 29 balls, Sherfane Rutherford, 36 not out off 18 balls, and captain Wahab Riaz, 20 off 8 balls. Wahab slammed three sixes against Steyn in the 19th over which went for 21.
Earlier, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan impressed again in Multan’s first win.
Rizwan hit 76 off 49 balls — his second half-century in this league — and Pakistan international Sohaib Maqsood made an unbeaten 61 off 41. Multan eased to 159-3 in 16.2 overs in reply to Lahore’s 157-6.
Rizwan and Maqsood shared 110 runs for the third wicket off 65 balls as Lahore badly missed Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan, who left for national duty after featuring in his team’s opening two victories.
The only Lahore batsman to flourish was Mohammad Hafeez, who followed unbeaten knocks of 73 and 33 against Quetta and Peshawar with 60 off 35 balls, including five sixes and three boundaries.
West Indies fast bowler Carlos Brathwaite picked up 2-20 and also a maiden over.
Peshawar Zalmi run down Quetta after record chase
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Peshawar Zalmi run down Quetta after record chase
- Multan Sultans earlier registered their first win when they beat Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets
- Quetta achieved the league’s highest total of 198-7
Pakistan forms committee to negotiate financial advisory services for Islamabad airport privatization
- Committee to engage Asian Development Bank to negotiate terms of financial advisory services agreement, says privatization ministry
- Inaugurated in 2018, Islamabad airport has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities and operational inefficiencies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Privatization Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has formed a committee to engage the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to negotiate a potential financial advisory services agreement for the privatization of Islamabad International Airport.
The Islamabad International Airport, inaugurated in 2018 at a cost of over $1 billion, has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities, and operational inefficiencies.
The Negotiation Committee formed by the Privatization Commission will engage with the ADB to negotiate the terms of a potential Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) for the airport’s privatization, the ministry said.
“The Negotiation Committee has been mandated to undertake negotiations and submit its recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval, in line with the applicable regulatory framework,” the Privatization Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Islamabad airport operations will be outsourced under a concession model through an open and competitive process to enhance its operational efficiency and improve service delivery standards.
Pakistan has recently sought to privatize or outsource management of several state-run enterprises under conditions agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion bailout approved in September last year.
Islamabad hopes outsourcing airport operations will bring operational expertise, enhance passenger experience and restore confidence in the aviation sector.
In December 2025, Pakistan’s government successfully privatized its national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), selling 75 percent of its stakes to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group.
The group secured a 75 percent stake in the PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after several rounds of bidding, valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said this week the government has handed over 26 state-owned enterprises to the Privatization Commission.
