By our correspondent
KARACHI: With only five league matches left in Season 10 of the Pakistan Super League, the race to the playoffs has entered its most intense and unpredictable phase. While Multan Sultans have bowed out of contention, the rest of the league is embroiled in a high-stakes scramble, where every game now carries the weight of a do-or-die encounter.
At the top of the table, Quetta Gladiators sit with 11 points and appear to be in the most comfortable position, but they are not out of the woods just yet. Their upcoming fixtures against Islamabad United and Multan Sultans will determine whether they secure a playoff berth with momentum or risk slipping at the final hurdle. Quetta’s campaign has been marked by consistent performances, but with such fine margins at play, even the slightest misstep could reshape the table.
Islamabad United and Karachi Kings both trail closely with 10 points apiece from eight matches, and they are now set for a nerve-wracking finale. United face the dual challenge of taking on both Quetta and Karachi—fixtures that could not only define their own playoff destiny but could directly eliminate or elevate their rivals. Karachi Kings, meanwhile, will look to maintain their late-season resurgence, but must first get past Peshawar Zalmi before their high-stakes clash with United, which has all the makings of a virtual knockout.
On the edge of the playoff picture, Lahore Qalandars find themselves teetering. With nine points from nine games, their qualification hopes hinge entirely on a final clash with Peshawar. For Lahore, it is a straightforward equation—win and wait, or bow out and reflect. Their journey through the tournament has been a mixed bag of near misses and clutch moments, but their margin for error has now disappeared entirely.
As for Peshawar Zalmi, they remain alive in the race despite sitting fifth with eight points. Two matches remain in their campaign, and a clean sweep would see them back in contention. But like Lahore, the window is narrow, and the pressure immense. Their upcoming matches offer both opportunity and peril—especially with their final fixture coming against Karachi, another side desperately clinging to its playoff hopes.
