Shadab Khan’s Acknowledgment of Finalists at Gaddafi Stadium
In a thrilling match at Gaddafi Stadium on May 1, 2026, Shadab Khan, captain of Islamabad United, acknowledged that the Hyderabad Kingsmen deserved their place in the final after a nail-biting victory. His team lost by just two runs in the PSL 11 Eliminator 2.
The Kingsmen set a challenging target, scoring 186 runs for 5 wickets. Usman Khan was a standout performer, scoring an impressive 61 runs off just 30 balls. In response, Islamabad United managed to score 184 runs for 7 wickets, falling just short.
Khan expressed his disappointment over the elimination, stating, “Yes, sad we didn’t make it to the final, but the team which played better deserves to be in the final.” He also recognized that their death bowling had been a concern during the match.
Key statistics from the match:
- Hyderabad Kingsmen scored a total of 186 runs.
- Islamabad United finished with 184 runs.
- Usman Khan’s remarkable innings included 61 runs off 30 balls.
- The match was decided by just a 2-run margin.
- Shadab noted that they conceded an estimated 10-15 extra runs due to their bowling performance.
Khan reflected on his team’s performance, mentioning they lost crucial wickets at pivotal moments. “I think I should have batted a bit better and taken the momentum,” he said. Despite this setback, he praised teammate Sameer Minhas for his exceptional talent throughout the tournament, where Minhas accumulated a total of 349 runs across 11 innings.
The competitive spirit of the PSL continues to shine through such matches. As teams gear up for future contests, fans will be eager to see how these lessons will shape their strategies moving forward.
