Islamabad United secures a thrilling victory in the championship game to capture their third PSL title, led by Imad Wasim

On Monday, March 18, in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Karachi, the Men in Red defeated the Multan Sultans in a thrilling last-ball match to become the most successful team in PSL history. After participating in as many finals as possible, Islamabad United has now won three trophies, their first since 2018.

The Sultans suffered their third consecutive defeat in the top match. In addition, Mike Hesson, who was Director of Cricket for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) until last year, won his first championship as head coach with the two-wicket victory.
With his current form, the former Pakistan all-rounder has made a strong case for a berth in the national side for the T20 World Cup. It was an all-out Imad Wasim display for Islamabad United, both on and off the pitch. The Multan Sultans were in early difficulty after Wasim removed two of their batters in his first over. Usman Khan, the Sultans’ top player of the season, attempted a comeback with the bat from skipper Muhammad Rizwan, but he was dismissed after making 26 runs.

Shadab Khan, the captain of Islamabad United, received his opposite number. Johnson Charles also left early since the Sultans were not able to form any significant alliances. Even though Usman hit a fifty, it was insufficient as the Sultans lost four wickets in a 12-run span, with Imad Wasim finishing with a fantastic fifer. It seemed as if the Sultans could post a mediocre 135–140 total, but veteran Iftikhar Ahmed boosted the 2021 winners to 159, giving Imad the greatest stats for a bowler in a PSL final.

During the powerplay, Martin Guptill made sure that the runs kept coming even if the United also lost a few wickets. Like the Sultans, United needed one strong partnership, and it arrived between Guptill and Azam Khan for the fourth wicket. Skipper Shadab was again removed early. While Azam maintained his incredible run at bat but fell just as it seemed he was taking United to victory, Guptill hammered home his half-century.

Imad Wasim was once again turned on by United to bail them out, and the left-hander gave the Men in Red the cool heads they needed to win the pursuit. United continued to lose wickets, but Wasim just needed one lower-order batsman to stay with him. Naseem Shah was that player; he closed the gap on the chase with a six and two fours before his younger brother Hunain sealed it in the last over.

United secured their third PSL championship after claiming two wickets on the last delivery.