The holders finish last
The ninth season kept the shape of the eighth: four cities, thirty-four matches, five weeks in February and March, playoffs at the National Stadium in Karachi. What changed was who was in them. Lahore Qalandars had won the two previous titles and now lost eight of ten and finished bottom of the table, a fall as complete as their earlier rise.
Multan Sultans went top for the second season running. Usama Mir took 24 wickets for them, the most of any bowler, including 6 for 40. Babar Azam made 569 runs for Peshawar Zalmi, more than anyone else, including 111 in one innings. Usman Khan of Multan made 106 and 100 in the same season, and Rassie van der Dussen 104.
Imad Wasim's three matches
Islamabad United finished third and won the title through the long route, and one cricketer won them each of the three matches. Imad Wasim, a left-arm spinner and lower-order batter who had been left out of Pakistan's plans, took 3 for 12 in Eliminator 1 as Quetta Gladiators were bowled out for 135. He took the award again in Eliminator 2, where he made 59 not out from 40 balls and Islamabad chased 186 against Peshawar Zalmi with six balls to spare. And he took it a third time in the final, with 5 for 23.
Multan had beaten Peshawar in the Qualifier, chasing 147 with nine balls left, and so went into the final having rested for four days.
Karachi, 18 March
Multan batted first and made 159 for 9. Islamabad lost eight wickets chasing it and reached 163 off the last ball of the twentieth over. Imad Wasim's 5 for 23 took the match award for the third playoff match running.
It was Islamabad's third title, from the seasons of 2016, 2018 and 2024, and made them the first side to reach three. Shadab Khan, their captain, was named player of the tournament for 305 runs and 14 wickets. For Multan it was a third consecutive final and a third defeat, each of them by a margin that could be counted on one hand: 42 runs, one run, two wickets.