Since its inauguration in 2016, the Pakistan Super League has become one of the most recognizable and prestigious leagues in the cricketing world. Featuring both local and foreign talent, it has not only brought back international cricket to Pakistan but has also provided an excellent platform for local players. Today, it is nine seasons old, with the tenth scheduled for April and May 2025, right after Pakistan hosts the ICC Champions Trophy in February and March–a packed schedule for local Pakistani fans.
If you are interested in the PSL and its evolution over the years, this PSL winners list with detailed explanations is for you. We will cover all the winners, runners-up, the best batters and bowlers, players of the tournament, and much more.
Read more: PSL Squad 2025: Complete PSL 10 Teams & Players List
Pakistan Super League (PSL) Winners List from 2016 to 2025
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Captain | Final Match Result |
| 2016 | Islamabad United | Quetta Gladiators | Misbah-ul-Haq | Islamabad United won by 6 wickets |
| 2017 | Peshawar Zalmi | Quetta Gladiators | Darren Sammy | Peshawar Zalmi won by 58 runs |
| 2018 | Islamabad United | Peshawar Zalmi | JP Duminy | Islamabad United won by 3 wickets |
| 2019 | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi | Sarfaraz Ahmed | Quetta Gladiators won by 8 wickets |
| 2020 | Karachi Kings | Lahore Qalandars | Imad Wasim | Karachi Kings won by 5 wickets |
| 2021 | Multan Sultans | Peshawar Zalmi | Mohammad Rizwan | Multan Sultans won by 47 runs |
| 2022 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Lahore Qalandars won by 42 runs |
| 2023 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Lahore Qalandars won by 1 run |
| 2024 | Islamabad United | Multan Sultans | Shadab Khan | Islamabad United won by 2 wickets |
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Let us expand on the PSL winner list by analyzing how each season unfolded over the years:
1. PSL 2016 – The Beginning
2016 was the year PSL was born. The tournament was held in the UAE, as Pakistan was recovering from security concerns that had prevented any cricketing action in the country after 2009. A total of five teams competed in the inaugural tournament:
- Islamabad United
- Karachi Kings
- Lahore Qalandars
- Peshawar Zalmi
- Quetta Gladiators
The final saw Islamabad United lock horns with Quetta Gladiators, captained by Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed, respectively. Gladiators posted a competitive running score of 174/7, but Islamabad chased it down with 6 wickets and 8 balls left, thanks to Dwayne Smith’s 73 (51 balls) and Brad Haddin’s 61 (39 balls).
A key highlight of this event was Islamabad United Sharjeel Khan’s blistering century (117 off 62 balls) scored against Quetta Gladiators during the playoffs. Quetta dominated the league and defeated Islamabad United in both group-stage matches but faltered against them in the final.
Despite doubts about its viability, the first PSL season proved a massive success. The League established itself as one of the most popular franchises in the world with the participation of stars like Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, and Shane Watson.
2. PSL 2017 – Peshawar Zalmi Dominates
The competition was expanded in 2017 with the inclusion of a sixth team, Multan Sultans. Peshawar Zalmi dominated this season thanks to their charismatic captain, Daren Sammy. The final was held in Lahore, an occasion that marked the return of international cricket to Pakistan.
Quetta Gladiators qualified for the final once again. However, their performance was significantly impacted by international players opting out due to security concerns, including Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, and Tymal Mills.
They faced Peshawar Zalmi in the final, who scored 148/6, with Kamran Akmal 40 (32 balls) and Daren Sammy 28 (11 balls) as the leading scorers. In response, the weakened Quetta Gladiators were dismissed for only 90 runs in 16.3 overs.
Kamran Akmal was named Player of the Series for scoring 353 runs (including a century), followed by Babar Azam, who scored 291 runs.
3. PSL 2018 – Islamabad United Hits Back
The third PSL edition was marked by Islamabad United taking back their crown and becoming the first team to win two PSL titles. The National Bank Stadium in Karachi was the venue for the final, marking another crucial moment as the City of Lights witnessed the return of international cricket.
JP Duminy led Islamabad, and their actual captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, was sidelined due to injury. Ruman Raees, Islamabad’s vice-captain, was also missing due to an injury.
Peshawar Zalmi secured a decent total of 148/9 in 20 overs, with Chris Jordan scoring 36 (26 balls) and Liam Dawson 33 (30 balls). Islamabad United comfortably chased down the target, which marched to victory in just 16.5 overs and 3 wickets in hand.
Luke Ronchi scored 52 off 26 balls and was named player of the match, as well as player of the tournament, for completing 435 runs.
4. PSL 2019 – Quetta Gladiators Win it
After two heartbreaks in 2016 and 2017, Quetta Gladiators finally lifted their first trophy and became part of the PSL winners list. They were still led by Sarfaraz Ahmed and performed consistently well throughout the tournament.
The final was held in Karachi once again. Peshawar Zalmi batted first and scored 138/8 in the 20 allotted overs – with Umar Amin scoring 38 (33 balls) and Kamran Akmal scoring 21 (15) balls. Gladiators comfortably chased down the total with 2.1 overs and 8 wickets in hand. Ahmed Shahzad (58 off 51 balls) and Rilee Rossouw (39 off 32 balls) were the deciding factors in the game.
Muhammad Hasnain of Gladiators was named player of the match for taking 3 wickets for 30 runs, while his teammate Shame Watson was declared player of the tournament for scoring 430 runs.
2019 was also the year when PSL was played in multiple cities, namely Lahore and Karachi, marking a key step toward full home-based tournaments.
5. PSL 2020 – Karachi Kings Finally Took the Throne
The 2020 season was heavily impacted by COVID-19, resulting in the suspension of several matches mid-season. Luckily, it resumed in November and resulted in a thrilling final between two arch-rivals and the biggest cricketing cities in Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore.
Karachi restricted Lahore to 134/7 in 20 overs, with Waqas Maqsood, Umaid Asif, and Arshad Iqbal dismissing two players each. In response, Karachi Kings played a steady innings anchored by Babar Azam, scoring 63 off 49 balls. Babar was not only named player of the match but also player of the tournament for scoring 473 runs.
This season was significant for both Karachi and Lahore, as both had been underperforming in previous editions of the tournament. Karachi finally broke their losing streak and earned a spot on the PSL winner’s list.
6. PSL 2021 – Multan Sultans Became Champions
The rise of Multan Sultans was the biggest highlight of the 2021 PSL edition. Under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy, they moved from a mid-table team to the PSL winner’s list.
The PSL 2021 season was also impacted by COVID-19; multiple cases were reported, and the PCB proposed playing the remaining matches in June 2021. However, all teams requested the tournament be moved to the UAE, to which the PCB agreed. The tournament restarted on 9th June in Abu Dhabi.
The final was played between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans on 24 June 2021 in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Multan Sultans completely outclassed Zalmi by scoring 206/4 and restricting the latter to 159/9, with Imran Tahir taking 3 wickets.
Sohaib Maqsood scored a thrilling 65 off 35 balls not out, and Rilee Rossouw contributed with a blistering 50 off 21 balls. Sohaib was named Player of the Match as well as Player of the Tournament (428 runs), although Babar Azam was the highest scorer with 554 runs.
7. PSL 2022 and 2023 – Lahore’s Unchallenged Reign
Lahore Qalandars struggled in the PSL overall, except for the 2020 season, when they reached the final and lost. However, they made a remarkable turnaround during the 2022 season under Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy and eventually placed themselves on the PSL winner’s list.
In the 2022 final, they defeated Multan Sultan by 42 runs, scoring 180/5 and restricting Multan to 138/10 in 19.3 overs. Muhammad Hafeez was declared player of the match for his 69 on 46 balls and 2 wickets for 23. Although Mohammad Rizwan of Multan Sultans was declared Player of the Tournament, Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi shined for Qalandars throughout the tournament, scoring 588 runs and taking 20 wickets, respectively.
The PSL 2023 repeated a similar story when Lahore Qalandars again played against Multan in the final and clinched a thrilling one-run victory. Lahore scored 200/6 in 20 overs, while Multan Sultans could only manage 199/8 in response.
Shaheen Shah Afridi played a brilliant knock of 44 on 15 balls not out and grabbed 4 wickets for 51 runs, for which he was declared Man of the Match. Ihsanullah, the Multan Sultan youngster, emerged as a world-class fast bowler and got 22 wickets, winning the Player of the Tournament award.
8. PSL 2024 – Islamabad’s Historic Third Title
The PSL 2024 season witnessed Islamabad win their historic third title, and the consecutive reigning champions Lahore Qalandars crash out of the group stage. Today, they are at the top of the PSL trophy winners list when we count the total number of titles.
Once again, the Multan Sultans were involved in a final that had a nail-biting finish. Playing first, Multan scored 159/9 in their 20 overs, and Usman Khan scored 52 on 40 balls. Martin Guptill’s 50 on 32 and Azam Khan’s 30 on 22 balls put Islamabad ahead of the finish point with 2 wickets to spare.
Imad Wasim of Islamabad was declared Player of the Match for taking 5 wickets for 23 runs and scoring 19 on 17 balls. Shadab Khan, his teammate, was named Player of the Tournament for his consistent performances.
PSL Trophy Winners – Yearly Breakdown & Key Stats
Let us look at a more detailed picture of the PSL winners list through key yearly statistics.
PSL Winning Teams by Year
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Winning Captain |
| 2016 | Islamabad United | Quetta Gladiators | Misbah-ul-Haq |
| 2017 | Peshawar Zalmi | Quetta Gladiators | Daren Sammy |
| 2018 | Islamabad United | Peshawar Zalmi | JP Duminy (stand-in for Misbah-ul-Haq) |
| 2019 | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi | Sarfaraz Ahmed |
| 2020 | Karachi Kings | Lahore Qalandars | Imad Wasim |
| 2021 | Multan Sultans | Peshawar Zalmi | Mohammad Rizwan |
| 2022 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Shaheen Afridi |
| 2023 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Shaheen Afridi |
| 2024 | Islamabad United | Multan Sultans | Shadab Khan |
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Captains Who Lifted the PSL
Let us review the PSL winner’s list and captains who led them to the title glory. .
| Captain | Winning Team | Winning Year |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | Islamabad United | 2016 |
| Daren Sammy | Peshawar Zalmi | 2017 |
| JP Duminy (stand-in for Misbah) | Islamabad United | 2018 |
| Sarfaraz Ahmed | Quetta Gladiators | 2019 |
| Imad Waseem | Karachi Kings | 2020 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Multan Sultans | 2021 |
| Shaheen Afridi | Lahore Qalandars | 2022 and 2023 |
| Shadab Khan | Islamabad United | 2024 |
Most Successful Teams in PSL History
Before discussing the individual team performances, let us compare the PSL winning team list based on tournaments won and runner-up finishes.
| Team | Title Won | Runner-up Finishes | Winning Years | Runner-up Years |
| Islamabad United | 3 | None | 2016, 2018, 2024 | None |
| Lahore Qalandars | 2 | 1 | 2022, 2023 | 2020 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 1 | 3 | 2017 | 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 1 | 2 | 2019 | 2016, 2017 |
| Multan Sultans | 1 | 3 | 2021 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Karachi Kings | 1 | 0 | 2020 | None |
1. Islamabad United – PSL Performance History
Islamabad United is the most successful team in PSL, securing three titles in 2016, 2018, and 2024. The first two titles were won under Misbah-ul-Haq, while the third was under Shadab Khan.
Islamabad went through a really rough phase after winning the 2018 tournament, when the best they could do was secure third place in the playoffs. Their fortunes changed in 2024 when they finally won the PSL after a long drought.
Key Players
- Luke Ronchi (2018) – Key performer in their second title win.
- Shadab Khan (2024) – Led the team with his stellar all-round performances.
- Imad Wasim (2024) – Played a crucial role in their latest title.
2. Lahore Qalandars – PSL Performance History
Lahore Qalandars had a dismal start to their PSL journey despite having stars like Chris Gayle in their team. They finished last in multiple seasons, and it looked like bouncing back from crushing defeats would be too big of a task. However, they came roaring back under Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy and secured a firm position in the PSL winners list by clinching the 2022 and 2023 editions.
In 2024, Lahore Qalandars came last out of 6 teams, losing all but one of their matches and scoring only 3 points.
Key Players
- Shaheen Afridi (2022 and 2023) – A high-impact player who took crucial wickets and scored a decisive innings in the 2023 final.
- Fakhar Zaman – A consistent top-order batsman.
- Mohammad Hafeez – Played a crucial role in the first title win in 2022
3. Quetta Gladiators – PSL Performance History
Quetta Gladiators were one of the most consistent teams in the early seasons of the PSL, playing three finals in four years. Despite their consistency, they only won one final in 2019.
Under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s leadership, Gladiators built a strong squad with experienced foreign players like Kevin Pietersen and Rilee Rossouw. They reached the 2016 and 2017 finals but fell short both times, losing to Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi, respectively.
They finally secured a title in 2019, thanks to Shane Watson (player of the tournament), Muhammad Hasnain (player of the match), and valuable contributions from Ahmed Shehzad, Rilee Rossouw, and Dwayne Bravo.
The Gladiators finished fourth in the 2024 edition of the tournament, with the worst run rate of all teams, -0.921, and 11 points.
Key Players
- Shane Watson (2019) – Player of the tournament.
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (Captain, 2016-2023) – Stood with the team and led them to the title glory.
- Mohammad Nawaz – Key all-rounder for Quetta.
4. Multan Sultans – PSL Performance History
Multan Sultans joined PSL in 2018 and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. They became part of the PSL winners list in 2021 under Muhammad Rizwan’s captaincy.
Since 2021, Multan has become one of the most consistent teams in the tournament. They reached three consecutive finals from 2021 to 2024, losing all three of them. This certainly ranks them among the unluckiest teams in the tournament, alongside Peshawar Zalmi, who have also lost three finals.
Key Players
- Muhammad Rizwan (Captain, 2021- Present) – Consistent performer and leader.
- Sohaib Maqsood (2021) – Player of the tournament.
- Ihsanullah (2023) – Player of the tournament.
5. Karachi Kings – PSL Performance History
Although Karachi Kings is among the most popular franchises in PSL, their performances have been a mixed bag from the beginning. Despite having players like Mohammad Amir (2016-19), Babar Azam (2017-19), Ravi Bopara (2016-19), Kieran Pollard (2017), and many more, they couldn’t make a notable impact.
Finally, in 2020, Kings broke the curse and became PSL trophy winners. Babar Azam batted superbly throughout the tournament, adding 473 runs to their account with an unbeaten 63 off 49 balls in the final. He was named player of the final and the tournament.
In the 2024 season, they performed poorly and finished second last. They also had the third-worst run rate in the tournament at -0.192.
Key Players
- Babar Azam (2017-22) – Player of the tournament in 2020.
- Imad Wasim (Captain, 2020) – Led his team to a title victory.
- Mohammad Amir (2016-23) – Leading wicket-taker for Karachi Kings.
6. Peshawar Zalmi – PSL Performance History
Peshawar Zalmi is arguably the most consistent team in PSL history, having reached five finals and qualifying for the playoffs in every single season. Despite their remarkable record, they have only managed to be part of the PSL champion list only once in 2017. They lost the 2018 final to Islamabad, the 2019 final to Quetta, the 2021 final to Multan, and the 2023 final to Lahore.
They had a decent 2024 season, where they finished second in the group stage and lost to Islamabad United in the playoffs, which put Islamabad against Multan in the final.
Key Players
- Daren Sammy (2017-2020) – Zalmi’s captain, who led them to their maiden title in 2017.
- Kamran Akmal (2016-22) – One of the highest scorers in the tournament.
- Wahab Riaz (2016-23) – PSL’s all-time leading wicket-taker at 113.
PSL Final MVPs – Man of the Match & Player of the Series
| Year | Final MVP (Man of the Match) | Player of the Series (Player of the Tournament) |
| 2016 | Dwayne Smith (Islamabad United) | Ravi Bopara (Karachi Kings) |
| 2017 | Daren Sammy (Peshawar Zalmi) | Kamran Akmal (Peshawar Zalmi) |
| 2018 | Luke Ronchi (Islamabad United) | Luke Ronchi (Islamabad United) |
| 2019 | Mohammad Hasnain (Quetta Gladiators) | Shane Watson (Quetta Gladiators) |
| 2020 | Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) | Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) |
| 2021 | Sohaib Maqsood (Multan Sultans) | Sohaib Maqsood (Multan Sultans) |
| 2022 | Mohammad Hafeez (Lahore Qalandars) | Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) |
| 2023 | Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) | Ihsanullah (Multan Sultans) |
| 2024 | Imad Wasim (Islamabad United) | Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) |
PSL Runners-up List & Close Contenders
| Year | Runners-up | Losing Captain | Final Match Highlights |
| 2016 | Quetta Gladiators | Sarfaraz Ahmed | Islamabad United chased 175; Dwayne Smith’s 73 off 51 balls led them to victory. |
| 2017 | Quetta Gladiators | Sarfaraz Ahmed | Peshawar Zalmi dominated with a 58-run victory; Daren Sammy scored a rapid 28 off 11 deliveries. |
| 2018 | Peshawar Zalmi | Daren Sammy | Islamabad United won by 3 wickets and 3.1 overs to spare; Luke Ronchi played a winning knock scoring 52 off 26 balls. |
| 2019 | Peshawar Zalmi | Daren Sammy | Quetta Gladiators chased down the target comfortably with 8 wickets and 2.1 overs to spare. Muhammad Hasnain dismissed 3 Zalmi players. |
| 2020 | Lahore Qalandars | Sohail Akhtar | Karachi Kings win their first title with Babar Azam scoring an unbeaten 63 off 49 deliveries. Waqas Maqsood, Umaid Asif, and Arshad Iqbal each dismissed 3 Lahore Qalandars batters. |
| 2021 | Peshawar Zalmi | Wahab Riaz | Multan Sultans won by a massive 47-run margin. Sohaib Maqsood scored thrilling 65 off 35 balls and Imran Tahir dismissed 3 Zalmi batters. |
| 2022 | Multan Sultans | Mohammad Rizwan | Lahore won their first PSL title by a comfortable 42 runs. Muhammad Hafeez, Harry Brook, Shaheen Afridi produced excellent performances on the big day. |
| 2023 | Multan Sultans | Mohammad Rizwan | The closest PSL final to date; Lahore won two consecutive titles. Shaheen Afridi took 4 wickets and scored a blazing 44 unbeaten off just 15 deliveries. |
| 2024 | Multan Sultans | Mohammad Rizwan | Another final that went to the very last ball. Imad Wasim took 5 wickets, Martin Guptill scored 50 off 32 balls, and Islamabad United won their third PSL title. |
PSL Winning Captains – Who Led Their Teams to Victory?
| Captain | Team(s) | PSL Titles Won | Winning Years |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | Islamabad United | 2 | 2016 and 2018 |
| Daren Sammy | Peshawar Zalmi | 1 | 2017 |
| Sarfaraz Ahmed | Quetta Gladiators | 1 | 2019 |
| Imad Waseem | Karachi Kings | 1 | 2020 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Multan Sultans | 1 | 2021 |
| Shaheen Afridi | Lahore Qalandars | 2 | 2022 and 2023 |
| Shadab Khan | Islamabad United | 1 | 2024 |
PSL Records – Most Runs, Wickets & Standout Performances
Let us now look at some of the best performances the PSL has witnessed over the years.
Highest Run Scorers in PSL History
- Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi): 3,504 runs
- Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars): 2,525
- Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans): 2,403
- Shoaib Malik (Karachi Kings): 2,336
- Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators): 2,015
Leading Wicket-Takers in PSL
- Wahab Riaz (Peshawar Zalmi): 113 wickets
- Hasan Ali (Karachi Kings): 108 wickets
- Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars): 103 wickets
- Shadab Khan (Islamabad United): 91 wickets
- Faheem Ashraf (Islamabad United): 78 wickets
Fastest 50s & 100s in PSL Finals
- Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans, 2021): 20 balls
- Luke Ronchi (Islamabad United, 2018): 25 balls
- Sohaib Maqsood (Multan Sultans, 2021): 26 balls
- Kumara Sangakkara (Quetta Gladiators, 2016); Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans — 2023); Martin Guptill (Islamabad United — 2023): 30 balls
- Brad Haddin, Islamabad United, 2016: 31 balls
There have been no centuries scored in any PSL final to date.
Conclusion
PSL is entering its 10th season this year, the last with six teams. Starting in 2026, the tournament will feature eight franchises, promising more entertainment than ever. With the addition of more teams and players, PSL offers an excellent betting opportunity for cricket lovers. The tournament has featured countless thrilling encounters over the years and promises more of that.
If you are thinking of trying your luck in cricket, PSL is the place to be. As the 2025 draft takes shape, look out for exciting players and teams that can help you win big.
FAQs
1. Who has the most PSL winners?
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars have players with the most PSL titles. Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan are the most prominent examples.
2. Who is the most successful captain in PSL history?
Misbah-ul-Haq and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the most successful captains in PSL history, playing for Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, respectively. Both have won two titles, although Misbah was injured during the 2018 final when JP Duminy served as the stand-in captain for Islamabad United.
3. How many PSL titles have Karachi Kings won?
Karachi Kings have one PSL title to their name. They won it in 2021 after defeating arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars by five wickets.
4. Who is the highest bid in PSL history?
PSL has no bidding system like the Indian Premier League (IPL). Instead, players are placed in five categories:
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Gold
- Silver
- Emerging
Teams can pick players from each category using complex rules, including the Right to Match (RTM), Wildcards, Brand Ambassadors, and the like.
