Islamabad United have surged to the top of the 2025 HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X standings with two emphatic victories, while Peshawar Zalmi face early pressure after a disastrous start that has left them winless at the bottom of the table.
The eighth edition of the PSL kicked off with Islamabad United setting the tone in the opening match, comfortably defeating defending champions Lahore Qalandars.
Islamabad’s bowling unit, led by Shadab Khan, ensured the Qalandars never recovered, handing United their first two points.
The second match saw Quetta Gladiators dominate Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi in a one-sided contest. Batting first, Quetta posted a massive total of 216.
In response, Zalmi could only manage 136 before being bowled out in the 16th over. It marked the beginning of a difficult week for the 2017 champions.
Karachi Kings made their first appearance of the season in the third game, claiming a narrow win over Multan Sultans in the game of the tournament thus far.
The Kings, buoyed by solid performances from their top order, managed to chase a huge total of 234 posted by Sultans. It was a statement win by David Warner’s team, announcing the new-look Kings onto the HBL PSL X stage.
Lahore Qalandars bounced back in the fourth fixture, beating Quetta Gladiators convincingly. Shaheen Afridi’s side clicked in all departments, with Fakhar Zaman playing a steady hand at the top.
The result put both teams on equal footing with one win and one loss.
Islamabad United returned to action in the fifth match, dominating Peshawar Zalmi to register their second win.
Once again, United’s top order looked fluent, while their bowlers kept things tight to boost the team’s net run rate to a tournament-leading 3.248.
Sahibzada Farhan, a major addition for United this season, made an instant impact by smashing a century that laid the foundation for a strong start.
As the tournament heads into its second week, Islamabad United have established early control, while Peshawar Zalmi will be desperate to turn things around.
Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings, and Lahore Qalandars have all shown flashes of form, and with each side yet to hit full stride, the standings remain open.
HBL PSL 2025 Points Table (as of April 15):
| Rank | Team | M | W | L | N/R | PT | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamabad United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3.248 |
| 2 | Lahore Qalandars | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.437 |
| 3 | Karachi Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.507 |
| 4 | Quetta Gladiators | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.025 |
| 5 | Multan Sultans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.507 |
| 6 | Peshawar Zalmi | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -4.550 |
Next fixtures will see Lahore take on Karachi on April 15, followed by Multan clashing with Islamabad on April 16.
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