The Pakistan Super League crowns a new champion every season, with Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars dominating as the only franchises to win three titles each. Since the league’s inception in 2016, ten seasons have produced diverse winners across the six-team competition.
Islamabad claimed their three titles spread across different eras (2016, 2018, 2024), while Lahore concentrated theirs in the modern period (2022, 2023, 2025), reflecting how championship strategies evolved.
The table below shows the complete winners list with decisive moments that determined each final:
In This Article You Will Know About:
- Complete PSL winners list from 2016 to 2025
- Most successful teams and their championship records
- Year-by-year breakdown with key moments
- Runner-up finishes and final match details
- Individual records and standout performances
- Championship patterns showing league evolution
Complete PSL Winners History Table
| Season | Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Final Venue | Margin | Captain |
| 1 | 2016 | Islamabad United | Quetta Gladiators | Lahore | 4 wickets | Misbah-ul-Haq |
| 2 | 2017 | Peshawar Zalmi | Islamabad United | Lahore | 3 wickets | Darren Sammy |
| 3 | 2018 | Islamabad United | Peshawar Zalmi | Karachi | 3 wickets | Misbah-ul-Haq |
| 4 | 2019 | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi | Karachi | 8 wickets | Sarfaraz Ahmed |
| 5 | 2020 | Karachi Kings | Lahore Qalandars | Karachi | 5 wickets | Imad Wasim |
| 6 | 2021 | Multan Sultans | Peshawar Zalmi | Abu Dhabi | 47 runs | Mohammad Rizwan |
| 7 | 2022 | Lahore Qalandars | Islamabad United | Lahore | 2 wickets | Shaheen Afridi |
| 8 | 2023 | Lahore Qalandars | Multan Sultans | Lahore | 1 run | Shaheen Afridi |
| 9 | 2024 | Islamabad United | Multan Sultans | Lahore | 2 wickets | Shan Masood |
| 10 | 2025 | Lahore Qalandars | Quetta Gladiators | Lahore | 4 wickets | Shaheen Afridi |
What This Data Reveals:
The winners table demonstrates three critical championship patterns. First, franchises require different timeframes to achieve dominance. Islamabad’s three titles span nine years (2016 through 2024), indicating sustained excellence across multiple squad generations.
In contrast, Lahore’s three titles compressed into four years (2022 through 2025) reveal peak-period dominance through consistent team stability.
Second, the margin column shows modern finals are tighter (1-run margins, 2-wicket victories) compared to early seasons, reflecting evolved competition.
Third, six different franchises captured at least one title, proving the league evolved from Islamabad’s early dominance toward genuine competitive balance.
PSL 2016: Islamabad United’s Historic Inaugural Victory
- Winner: Islamabad United
- Runner-up: Quetta Gladiators
- Final Score: Quetta 175, Islamabad 176/6
Islamabad United created history by winning the inaugural PSL championship. Their unorthodox playoff route caused them to enter the final with momentum. Finishing third in the group stage led to consecutive victories against stronger-seeded opponents, which resulted in psychological confidence that proved decisive.
Key Moments:
Brad Haddin’s 61 off 39 balls broke Quetta’s bowling stranglehold and set the platform for Islamabad’s chase. Haddin’s partnership with Dwayne Smith resulted in chasing 175 in the penultimate over.
Islamabad beat Peshawar Zalmi by 28 runs in their semi-playoff match, entering the final with momentum.
Records & Highlights:
- Inaugural PSL champions claimed the first trophy.
- Brad Haddin named Player of the Tournament.
- Misbah-ul-Haq’s captaincy proved crucial in the knockout stages.
PSL 2017: Peshawar Zalmi’s First Title
- Winner: Peshawar Zalmi
- Runner-up: Islamabad United
- Final Score: Islamabad 159/8, Peshawar 160/7
Peshawar Zalmi’s breakthrough victory caused a power shift in the league’s early hierarchy. Their experience of repeated near-misses resulted in refined pressure-handling that ultimately secured their maiden title.
Key Moments:
Darren Sammy’s captaincy transformed Peshawar’s middle-order approach, causing boundary-hitting emphasis that became their strategic advantage.
Peshawar chased efficiently despite Islamabad posting a competitive 159.
Records & Highlights:
- Peshawar Zalmi’s first PSL championship.
- Darren Sammy established himself as franchise leader.
- Their third consecutive final appearance showed competitive consistency.
PSL 2018: Islamabad United’s Second Crown
- Winner: Islamabad United
- Runner-up: Peshawar Zalmi
- Final Score: Peshawar 149, Islamabad 150/7
Islamabad United became the first franchise to win multiple PSL titles. Their seven wins from ten group-stage matches caused them to top the standings, which resulted in favorable playoff seeding.
Key Moments:
Luke Ronchi’s 94-run qualifier against Peshawar caused the tournament’s perception of aggressive opening partnerships.
Ronchi’s 50-plus score in the final proved decisive, earning him Player of the Tournament.
Islamabad finished top of the group stage with dominant form.
Records & Highlights:
- Islamabad’s second PSL title across their championship trajectory.
- Luke Ronchi’s dominant performance influenced franchise recruitment strategies.
- Record group-stage finish (seven wins from ten matches).
- Multan Sultans made their PSL debut in this season.
PSL 2019: Quetta Gladiators Break Through
- Winner: Quetta Gladiators
- Runner-up: Peshawar Zalmi
- Final Score: Peshawar 158/9, Quetta 159/2
Quetta Gladiators clinched their maiden PSL title, breaking a cycle of runner-up finishes. Their 2019 victory ended Islamabad’s and Peshawar’s early dominance, resulting in demonstrating that newer strategic approaches could overcome established teams.
Key Moments:
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s aggressive captaincy triggered mid-tournament momentum swing.
Quetta chased 158 with aggressive batting, securing a two-wicket victory.
Peshawar reached their third consecutive final but fell short again.
Records & Highlights:
- Quetta’s first PSL championship.
- Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy established aggressive chasing as viable strategy.
- Peshawar’s third consecutive final loss extended their trophy drought.
PSL 2020: Karachi Kings’ Long-Awaited Triumph
- Winner: Karachi Kings
- Runner-up: Lahore Qalandars
- Final Score: Lahore 134/7, Karachi 135/5
Karachi Kings captured their first PSL trophy after four consecutive playoff appearances. Babar Azam’s dominant tournament run (473 runs) caused opposition bowlers to adjust defensively, which led to Karachi finding consistent scoring patterns.
Key Moments:
Babar Azam’s 49-ball 63 in the final caused the momentum shift Karachi needed.
Imad Wasim’s captaincy decision to bat second caused chase-focused team culture.
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Karachi reached the target with five wickets remaining.
Records & Highlights:
- Karachi Kings’ first PSL championship.
- Babar Azam’s 473 runs caused franchise focus on developing star-player strategies.
- Fifth different franchise champion in five seasons reflected genuine league-wide competitiveness.
PSL 2021: Multan Sultans’ Dominant Win
- Winner: Multan Sultans
- Runner-up: Peshawar Zalmi
- Final Score: Multan 206/4, Peshawar 159/9
Multan Sultans won their first PSL title, scoring the highest PSL final total of 206 runs. Their breakthrough victory resulted from patient franchise building, ultimately leading to this win in 2021.
Key Moments:
Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy caused Multan to prioritize aggressive middle-order batting.
Multan’s 206 set a record that caused every future franchise to invest in power-hitting specialists.
Peshawar managed only 159 in reply, unable to handle the target.
Records & Highlights:
- Multan’s maiden PSL title.
- Highest PSL final total of 206/4 set new tournament standard.
- Mohammad Rizwan established himself as key franchise figure.
- Peshawar’s consecutive finals without victory resulted in their trophy drought continuing.
PSL 2022: Lahore Qalandars Break the Curse
- Winner: Lahore Qalandars
- Runner-up: Islamabad United
- Final Score: Islamabad 118, Lahore 120/6
Lahore Qalandars finally captured their first PSL title, breaking a six-year cycle of near-misses. Shaheen Afridi’s appointment as captain caused a fundamental shift in team mentality.
Key Moments:
Shaheen Afridi’s young captaincy caused Lahore to abandon conservative approaches that had failed for years.
Mohammad Hafeez’s dual impact (batting and bowling) in the final caused the match-turning moments.
Lahore defeated Islamabad in Qualifier 2 despite losing Qualifier 1 to Multan.
Records & Highlights:
- Lahore’s first PSL championship.
- Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy brought immediate success.
- Mohammad Hafeez named Player of the Tournament.
- All six franchises had now won at least once.
PSL 2023: Lahore Qalandars’ Historic Back-to-Back
- Winner: Lahore Qalandars
- Runner-up: Multan Sultans
- Final Score: Lahore 200/6, Multan 199/9
Lahore Qalandars became the first franchise to successfully defend their PSL title. When they retained core players after 2022 success, this strategic decision caused squad continuity that resulted in players understanding each other’s patterns.
Key Moments:
Shaheen Afridi’s explosive 44 off 15 balls in the final caused Lahore to post 200 runs.
Shaheen’s four-wicket haul (4/51) with the ball proved equally crucial.
Multan chased hard and nearly succeeded (posting 199) but fell one run short.
Records & Highlights:
- Lahore’s second consecutive title.
- First franchise to successfully defend PSL title.
- Shaheen Afridi’s dual impact made him the tournament’s standout player.
- Multan’s second consecutive final loss extended their frustration.
- One-run margin created one of the closest finals in PSL history.
PSL 2024: Islamabad United’s Tri-umph
- Winner: Islamabad United
- Runner-up: Multan Sultans
- Final Score: Multan 159/9, Islamabad 162/8
Islamabad United captured their third PSL title, becoming the only franchise with three championships. Their eight-year gap between their second and third titles resulted from franchise patience with squad building.
Key Moments:
Imad Wasim’s five-wicket haul restricted Multan to 159 runs.
Islamabad chased despite pressure, winning by two wickets.
Last-ball victory with just one ball remaining demonstrated extreme final tightness.
Records & Highlights:
- Islamabad’s third PSL title, sole franchise with three championships.
- Imad Wasim’s 5-wicket performance was tournament’s standout bowling.
- Shan Masood’s captaincy established him as franchise leader.
- Multan’s consecutive final losses (2023, 2024, 2025) resulted from inability to finish.
- Islamabad’s championship across three eras proved sustained excellence.
PSL 2025: Lahore Qalandars Claim Third Title
- Winner: Lahore Qalandars
- Runner-up: Quetta Gladiators
- Final Score: Quetta 159, Lahore 163/6
Lahore Qalandars captured their third PSL championship, consolidating their position as co-leaders with Islamabad United. Their three titles compressed into four years resulted from sustained leadership under Shaheen Afridi.
Key Moments:
Shaheen Afridi’s continued captaincy caused Lahore’s repeat success through consistent squad retention.
Lahore accessed home-ground advantages with Pakistan-based venues.
Quetta couldn’t overcome Lahore’s batting attack.
Records & Highlights:
- Lahore’s third PSL title.
- Shaheen Afridi’s three-year captaincy resulted in three championship victories.
- Both Islamabad and Lahore reached three titles each.
- Return to Pakistan-based tournament format.
Most Successful PSL Teams & Records
Championship Distribution Analysis
The PSL’s ten-season history resulted in a two-tier competitive structure. Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars reaching three titles each caused them to establish themselves as dominant franchises.
When Islamabad won spread across nine years (2016, 2018, 2024), their longevity caused perception of sustained excellence.
Conversely, Lahore’s three titles in four years (2022, 2023, 2025) caused perception of peak-period superiority, creating different championship narratives that reflected franchise building philosophies.
The four remaining franchises each captured one title resulted in competitive balance across the league. This distribution meant that six franchises had proven capability to win, causing strategic parity that made PSL’s later seasons more unpredictable.
Champions Tally
Teams with Multiple Titles:
- Islamabad United: 3 titles (2016, 2018, 2024)
- Lahore Qalandars: 3 titles (2022, 2023, 2025)
Teams with Single Titles:
- Peshawar Zalmi: 1 title (2017)
- Quetta Gladiators: 1 title (2019)
- Karachi Kings: 1 title (2020)
- Multan Sultans: 1 title (2021)
Final Appearances & Records
Most Final Appearances – Comparing Franchises:
Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans both reached four finals, but their trajectories differ significantly.
When Peshawar appeared in finals across different eras (2017, 2019, 2021), their repeated final appearances resulted in perception of consistent excellence. However, losing three consecutive finals caused psychological impact that affected future campaigns.
Multan’s four final appearances compressed into recent seasons (2021 win, then 2023, 2024, 2025 losses) resulted from newer franchise building that created rapid success.
Runner-up Drought Patterns:
Peshawar’s three runner-up finishes between 2019-2021 caused championship drought. Multan’s three consecutive final losses (2023, 2024, 2025) created different pattern. Recent consecutive finals meant Multan remained in championship conversations despite losing.
Unbeaten Franchises:
Karachi Kings’ perfect record (1 appearance, 1 win) established them as finals specialists.
Islamabad United demonstrated ultimate consistency (3 appearances, 3 wins) proving that franchise stability transcends seasons.
Lahore Qalandars’ high winning percentage (3 appearances, 2 wins at 67%) showed that appearing in finals consistently led to championships.
Notable Individual Records in PSL Finals
Highest Individual Score in Final – Impact on Tournament Evolution:
Luke Ronchi’s 94-run innings in the 2018 PSL final caused a paradigm shift toward aggressive opening partnerships. When Ronchi batted explosively, his approach resulted in opposition bowling strategies changing league-wide.
Franchises began recruiting power-hitters after seeing his impact. This single performance influenced recruitment philosophies for five consecutive seasons.
Best Bowling Performance – Match-Deciding Brilliance:
Imad Wasim’s 5-wicket haul in 2024 and Shaheen Afridi’s 4/51 in 2023 established bowling as final-deciding factors.
When Imad restricted Multan to 159 despite batting collapses, his performance caused Islamabad to gain chase confidence.
Highest Team Total in Final – Setting Impossible Targets:
Multan Sultans’ 206-run total in 2021 caused permanent shift in final totals. When Peshawar managed only 159 in reply, the 47-run margin demonstrated that aggressive batting created insurmountable targets.
This record-breaking total resulted in franchises prioritizing power-hitting specialists, leading to increased batting averages in subsequent finals.
FAQs
Which team has won the most PSL titles?
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars are co-leaders with 3 titles each. Islamabad won in 2016, 2018, and 2024, while Lahore claimed victories in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Has any team defended their PSL title?
Yes, Lahore Qalandars became the first and only team to defend their PSL title successfully. They won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, and also added a third title in 2025.
Which team reached the most PSL finals?
Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans both reached 4 finals each. Peshawar won 1 and lost 3, while Multan also won 1 and lost 3.
Who was the Player of the Tournament in the first PSL?
Brad Haddin won the Player of the Tournament award in PSL 2016. He played a match-winning 61 in the final for Islamabad United.
What’s the highest total scored in a PSL final?
Multan Sultans holds the record with 206/4 in the PSL 2021 final against Peshawar Zalmi.
How many teams have won at least one PSL title?
All six teams competing in the modern PSL have won at least one title. Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars (3 each), while Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans (1 each).
Who was the tournament’s best player in the first season?
Brad Haddin was named Player of the Tournament in PSL 2016. His explosive batting in the knockout stages and final match-winning innings earned him the award.
Which final was decided by the closest margin?
The PSL 2023 final between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans was decided by just 1 run, making it the closest final in PSL history.
How many times has Peshawar Zalmi reached the final without winning?
Peshawar Zalmi has reached the final 4 times but won only once (2017). They were runners-up in 2019 and 2021.
What’s the significance of the 2024 PSL final?
The 2024 final was decided on the last ball with Islamabad United winning by just 2 wickets. This was Islamabad’s third title and made them the only team with three PSL championships.
