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 says eyeing billions in investments through crypto projects in coming years
- Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman attends Abu Dhabi Bitcoin Conference 2025
- Says Pakistan considers Bitcoin, digital assets “a fundamental pillar of the future financial system“
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal bin Saqib said this week that Islamabad is eyeing billions in investment through digital assets initiatives and cryptocurrency projects in the coming years, state media reported.
Analysts have said Pakistan’s attempts to tap into the country’s growing crypto market, crack down on money laundering and terror financing, and promote responsible innovation could bring an estimated $25 billion in virtual assets into the tax net.
Pakistan has attempted to bring virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under a formal licensing regime in recent months. PVARA this month also granted no objection certificates (NOCs) to global crypto exchanges Binance and HTX.
Speaking during an interview at the Abu Dhabi Bitcoin Conference 2025, Saqib said Pakistan is reforming the unregulated crypto market to transform it into a “transparent and investor-friendly system in line with global standards,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
“He said that interim licenses, mining, tokenization and fintech pilot projects have been launched for major exchanges in Pakistan and billions of dollars are expected to be invested in these projects in the next few years,” Radio Pakistan said in its report.
The PVARA chairman said Pakistan has become the “center of attention” globally due to the significant progress it has achieved in crypto regulation.
Saqib said Islamabad considers Bitcoin and digital assets not only an investment but “a fundamental pillar of the future financial system.”
“He said that Pakistan’s goal is to make youth not consumers but digital creators and architects of the new economy,” Radio Pakistan said.
Pakistan’s move to formalize digital asset regulation comes amid broader economic reforms under an International Monetary Fund program, with authorities under pressure to strengthen financial controls, improve transparency and manage risks linked to emerging technologies.
While officials have framed the crypto framework as regulation-first rather than promotion-led, analysts say its implementation, particularly enforcement and coordination with the central bank, will be closely watched by international lenders and investors.
