Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza has firmly rejected suggestions that financial incentives motivated his last-minute return to play in the PSL 10 final, calling out former Pakistan cricketer Imad Wasim by name over the remarks.
Speaking in a recent interview with a local sports platform, the Zimbabwe T20I captain said money had nothing to do with his decision. “Regarding Imad Wasim’s comments about money being my motivation to return and play the PSL final, money was not the motivating factor,” Raza stated firmly.
“My priorities are respect, honour, and loyalty. In fact, money was deducted from my contract for the matches I missed, so his opinion doesn’t bother me because it isn’t true.”
During PSL 10, when Imad was asked to describe Raza in a single word following his dramatic return to the squad minutes before the toss in the final at Gaddafi Stadium. Instead of a single word, Imad offered a broader take. “Like Shoaib Akhtar said, money can do things for you,” he said.
“If you’re getting paid, you’ll go. I travel a lot too. Sometimes one match ends, and the next day you’re playing another. I have travelled 24 hours straight and gone directly into a match. So yes, money can make different things happen.”
The context behind that return was Raza’s temporary leave from the Qalandars to captain Zimbabwe in a one-off Test against England in Nottingham. The match ran deep into Saturday night by Pakistan Standard Time, raising serious doubts about whether he would make it back in time. He did, rejoining the squad just before the toss against table-toppers Quetta Gladiators.
Raza’s presence in that final turned out to be crucial. Chasing 202, Lahore were in trouble at 115 for 3 in the 13th over after Mohammad Naeem’s 47 off 27 and Abdullah Shafique’s 41 off 28 had given them a solid platform but not enough.
Raza hit consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Amir to swing momentum back, while Thisara Perera contributed a rapid fifty off 28 balls. With 13 needed off the last over, Raza struck a four and a six to seal a six-wicket win off the penultimate ball, giving Lahore their third PSL title.
