Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, currently turning up for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, has hit back at remarks made by former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim regarding his late arrival for the PSL 10 final in Lahore.
Key takeaways
- Imad Wasim had questioned Raza’s willingness to be available for the PSL 10 final at Gaddafi Stadium, citing franchise-cricket priorities.
- Raza missed earlier PSL 10 matches after taking partial leave from Lahore Qalandars to play a one-off Test for Zimbabwe against England in Nottingham.
- After returning just before the toss, Raza still played the final against Quetta Gladiators.
- Shaheen Afridi’s Lahore Qalandars won the PSL 10 title, beating Quetta by six wickets in the final.
- In the chase of 202, Lahore’s finish was sealed in the last over with help from Raza, including a four and a six.
What Imad Wasim said and why it drew a response
The comments trace back to last year, when Imad Wasim addressed Raza’s late arrival for the PSL 10 final. The context was that Raza had taken partial leave from the Qalandars setup to feature in a one-off Test match for Zimbabwe against England in Nottingham. That Test concluded late on Saturday night in Pakistan Standard Time, which created uncertainty over whether he would make it in time for the final.
Despite the doubt, Raza rejoined the Lahore camp only minutes before the toss and went on to take his place in the XI against Quetta Gladiators. When Imad was asked to sum up Raza in a single word, he did not focus on cricketing loyalty or discipline; instead, he pointed to the influence of money in franchise sport.
Imad had said, “Like Shoaib Akhtar said — money can do things for you.” He added that if a player is being paid, they will go, and explained that his own travel schedule often involves moving from one match to the next with very little downtime. He further argued that financial incentives can lead to different outcomes in professional leagues.
Raza’s reply: not about money, and he says he lost money instead
In a recent conversation with a local sports platform, Raza directly addressed Imad’s claims and insisted his choice was never driven by payment. He also said that the decision cost him financially because he missed earlier fixtures due to international commitments.
Raza said that money was not the deciding factor behind his return for the PSL final. He stated that his priorities are “respect, honour, and loyalty,” and claimed that earnings were actually reduced through deductions to his contract for matches he missed. He added that Imad’s view does not concern him because, in his words, it is not accurate.
For clarity on the sporting backdrop, Lahore Qalandars—led by Shaheen Afridi—went on to lift the PSL 10 trophy. They achieved it with a six-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators, marking their third title in the competition.
Lahore’s chase of 202: the turning points in the final over
Quetta posted a target of 202, and Lahore began the run chase briskly through Mohammad Naeem. Naeem struck 47 off 27 balls, including one four and six sixes, before being dismissed by Faheem Ashraf.
Abdullah Shafique then made an impact, scoring 41 off 28 deliveries. His innings included four boundaries and a six, but he was removed by Usman Tariq. That dismissal left Lahore at 115 for 3 after 12.3 overs.
As the required rate climbed, Thisara Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa struggled through a difficult phase where scoring became harder. The momentum shifted when Raza took over, striking consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Amir.
Perera also contributed at a crucial stage, reaching a half-century off 28 balls. With Lahore still needing 13 runs in the final over, Raza delivered the decisive blows—hitting a four followed by a six—to complete the chase with one ball remaining.
