Islamabad United stands as the most successful franchise in Pakistan Super League history. The team from Pakistan’s capital city won three PSL titles in 2016, 2018, and 2024. They became the first team to lift the trophy three times when they defeated Multan Sultans in the 2024 final. The franchise represents Islamabad and plays home matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The team earned the nickname ‘Sherus’ after their lion mascot. Red, orange, and gold serve as the primary team colors. Under captain Shadab Khan’s leadership, Islamabad United continues to build a winning culture, combining experienced internationals with talented local players.
Ownership
Leonine Global Investments owns Islamabad United through its sports division, Leonine Global Sports. Siblings Ali Naqvi and Amna Naqvi lead the ownership group. Ali Naqvi serves as Chairman, while Amna Naqvi works as Director of the franchise.
The Pakistan Cricket Board sold the Islamabad franchise to Leonine Global Sports for US$15 million in December 2015. This covered a ten-year period from 2016 to 2025. In November 2025, the franchise renewed its rights for another decade, running from 2026 to 2035. The new agreement sets the annual franchise fee at Rs. 480 million following a league-wide valuation by Ernst & Young.
Islamabad United Squad 2026
The following table shows the Islamabad United squad for the PSL 2026 season:
| Player | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Shadab Khan (C) | All-rounder | Platinum |
| Naseem Shah | Bowler | Platinum |
| Matthew Short | Batter | Platinum |
| Colin Munro | Batter | Diamond |
| Imad Wasim | All-rounder | Diamond |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Batter | Diamond |
| Jason Holder | All-rounder | Diamond |
| Azam Khan | Wicketkeeper | Gold |
| Haider Ali | Batter | Gold |
| Salman Ali Agha | All-rounder | Gold |
| Ben Dwarshuis | Bowler | Gold |
| Andries Gous | Wicketkeeper | Silver |
| Salman Irshad | Bowler | Silver |
| Hunain Shah | Bowler | Emerging |
| Riley Meredith | Bowler | Silver |
| Rassie van der Dussen | Batter | Silver |
Players To Watch
Shadab Khan (Captain) – The leg-spinning all-rounder became PSL’s youngest captain when he took charge in 2020. He won the Player of the Tournament award in PSL 2024 after scoring 305 runs and taking 14 wickets. Shadab leads the team with tactical brilliance and match-winning performances.
Naseem Shah – Pakistan’s express pacer brings raw speed and swing to the bowling attack. He claimed 15 wickets in PSL 2024 and played a key role in the title win. His younger brothers, Hunain and Ubaid, also feature in PSL squads.
Sahibzada Farhan – The explosive opener emerged as a PSL star in recent seasons. He topped the run charts in PSL 2025 with 449 runs at a strike rate above 150. His aggressive batting in powerplay overs gives Islamabad United strong starts.
Colin Munro – The New Zealand left-hander holds the record for most runs by any player for Islamabad United. His power-hitting ability makes him dangerous throughout the innings. Munro scored 326 runs in PSL 2024 with consistent performances.
Imad Wasim – The experienced left-arm spinner and lower-order batter delivers clutch performances. He claimed the Player of the Match award on 5/23 in the PSL 2024 final. His economy rate of 6.60 ranked as the best among bowlers with 10+ wickets that season.
Season-by-Season Performance
The following table shows Islamabad United’s performance across all PSL seasons:
| Season | Played | Won | Lost | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 | 7 | 4 | Champions |
| 2017 | 10 | 5 | 5 | Eliminated |
| 2018 | 11 | 7 | 4 | Champions |
| 2019 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 4th Place |
| 2020 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5th Place |
| 2021 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 5th Place |
| 2022 | 11 | 5 | 6 | Eliminated |
| 2023 | 11 | 5 | 6 | Eliminated |
| 2024 | 12 | 8 | 4 | Champions |
| 2025 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 2nd Place |
Leading Run Scorers (All-Time)
| Player | Innings | Runs | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Munro | 45 | 1,420+ | 84 |
| Alex Hales | 38 | 996 | 82 |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 35 | 950+ | 106 |
| Shadab Khan | 75+ | 900+ | 80 |
| Luke Ronchi | 28 | 800+ | 71 |
Leading Wicket Takers (All-Time)
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadab Khan | 75+ | 96+ | 4/14 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 55 | 60+ | 6/19 |
| Rumman Raees | 40+ | 48+ | 4/13 |
| Naseem Shah | 30+ | 40+ | 3/15 |
| Hasan Ali | 35+ | 38+ | 4/27 |
Best Individual Batting Performances
| Player | Score | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjeel Khan | 117 | Peshawar Zalmi | 2016 |
| Cameron Delport | 117* | Lahore Qalandars | 2019 |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 106 | Multan Sultans | 2025 |
| Usman Khawaja | 105* | Peshawar Zalmi | 2021 |
| Colin Munro | 84 | Multan Sultans | 2024 |
Best Individual Bowling Performances
| Player | Figures | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faheem Ashraf | 6/19 | Karachi Kings | 2019 |
| Imad Wasim | 5/23 | Multan Sultans | 2024 |
| Mohammad Sami | 5/8 | Karachi Kings | 2016 |
| Shadab Khan | 4/14 | Lahore Qalandars | 2019 |
| Andre Russell | 3/37 | Quetta Gladiators | 2016 |
Highest Team Scores
| Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 247/2 | Peshawar Zalmi | Abu Dhabi | 2021 |
| 243/7 | Multan Sultans | Rawalpindi | 2025 |
| 238/3 | Lahore Qalandars | Karachi | 2019 |
| 232/7 | Multan Sultans | Rawalpindi | 2024 |
| 218/5 | Karachi Kings | Dubai | 2019 |
Lowest Team Scores
| Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Karachi Kings | Sharjah | 2017 |
| 90 | Lahore Qalandars | Lahore | 2023 |
| 111 | Peshawar Zalmi | Dubai | 2017 |
| 121 | Multan Sultans | Dubai | 2019 |
| 127 | Quetta Gladiators | Dubai | 2018 |
The Islamabad United Journey
Islamabad United wrote history from the very first ball of PSL. The team won the inaugural championship in 2016 under captain Misbah-ul-Haq with Dean Jones as head coach. Sharjeel Khan scored the first-ever PSL century during that winning campaign.
The 2017 season ended in disappointment when Karachi Kings knocked them out in the Eliminator. United recorded their lowest-ever score of 82 runs in that match. However, the team bounced back strongly in 2018. Luke Ronchi’s explosive batting and Shadab Khan’s all-round skills helped United win their second title against Peshawar Zalmi.
The franchise faced challenging years from 2019 to 2023. They made the playoffs but failed to reach the final. Shadab Khan took over as captain in 2020, becoming the youngest skipper in PSL history. The team focused on building a strong core of local talent during this period.
Everything clicked in PSL 2024. Imad Wasim’s match-winning 5/23 in the final against Multan Sultans sealed the third title. Shadab Khan earned Player of the Tournament honors. Islamabad United became the first franchise to win three PSL championships.
PSL 2025 saw Sahibzada Farhan emerge as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 449 runs. The team finished second in the group stage and reached the playoffs. With the franchise renewal secured until 2035, Islamabad United enters PSL 2026 ready to add more trophies to their cabinet.
Mike Hesson serves as head coach, with Ashley Wright as batting coach and Ian Butler handling bowling duties. The combination of experienced leadership and hungry young talent positions Islamabad United as strong contenders for PSL 2026.