Shadab Khan reflects on closely contested PSL final against Multan Sultans

Islamabad United's captain, Shadab Khan, expressed immense joy after his team secured victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine by defeating Multan Sultans by two wickets in Karachi.

This win marked Islamabad's third PSL title, having previously triumphed in 2016 and 2018, solidifying their status as the most successful team in the tournament's history.

Speaking in the post-match presser, Shadab attributed the team's success to their ability to win even without delivering a flawless performance. He extended gratitude to the team owners for their unwavering support throughout his journey, acknowledging the hard work and belief that went into winning the trophy.

“The sign of a best team is that they win even without playing a perfect game. I would like to thank the owners for backing me and how they supported me throughout my journey. There was a lot of hard work and belief behind winning this trophy so this trophy means a lot to us,” Shadab said.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Shadab mentioned his transition from being primarily a batsman to focusing on his bowling. He expressed optimism about further improving his bowling performance, emphasizing its significant impact on the team's success.

“I was a batter at the start [of my career], wanted to utilize my abilities as a batter by batting up the order, it helps team more if I bat at fourth or fifth," Shadab said.

“I was struggling while bowling but I have tried to fix the technical issues and I'm hopeful there will be further improvement in my bowling. When I perform as a bowler, it benefits the team a lot," he further added.

The thrilling final was decided on the last ball when Hunain Shah struck a boundary, securing victory for United. Sultans, batting first, posted 159-9, with notable contributions from Usman Khan and captain Mohammad Rizwan.

Imad shone with the ball, claiming figures of 5-23, supported by Naseem's 3-32. Despite a late resurgence from Multan, propelled by Iftikhar Ahmed's quickfire innings, United successfully chased down the target.