In what can only be described as a sporting fairytale, Zimbabwean allrounder Sikandar Raza scripted one of the most dramatic comebacks in cricket history, arriving in Lahore just ten minutes before the toss and going on to seal the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final for Lahore Qalandars with both bat and ball.
Barely 24 hours earlier, Raza was battling to save a Test match for Zimbabwe against England at Trent Bridge. His valiant 60 off 68 balls wasn’t enough to prevent an innings defeat, but his next chapter was already taking shape. Within hours of that loss, he was on a flight back to Pakistan – once again donning Qalandars' green.
Raza landed in Lahore only ten minutes before the toss. The Qalandars, desperate to have him in their squad for the final showdown against Quetta Gladiators, had prepared two team sheets – one with Raza, and the other featuring Shakib al Hasan in case the Zimbabwean didn’t make it. Incredibly, he arrived just in time and was slotted into the playing XI.
Despite the whirlwind travel and no time for rest or preparation, Raza delivered a match-winning all-round performance. He bowled four tidy overs, finishing with figures of 1 for 43, and then came back to smash 22 runs off just seven balls in a nerve-shredding chase. With two sixes and two fours, Raza made sure his bat roared when it mattered most – hammering Faheem Ashraf for a six and then smashing the winning boundary on the penultimate ball of the match.
His remarkable return wasn't a one-off. Raza has been juggling commitments between his national side and his PSL franchise throughout the season. He left the Qalandars mid-tournament when the league was briefly suspended, only to return for the knockout clash against Peshawar Zalmi. After helping secure a win and qualification to the final, he flew back to England for the Test. As soon as it concluded, Qalandars flew him back again to feature in the final.
Raza’s commitment, resilience, and sheer passion for the game capped off a heroic narrative – one that will be remembered for years in PSL history. From Test cricket in Nottingham to PSL glory in Lahore within 24 hours, Sikandar Raza proved once again why he is one of the most valuable allrounders in world cricket.