Once mocked as the perpetual underachievers of the Pakistan Super League, Lahore Qalandars have rewritten their legacy with a stunning transformation. From finishing at the bottom of the table in four consecutive seasons to lifting three titles in four years, Qalandars have emerged as one of the most formidable franchises in PSL history.
The fall before the rise
In their early years, the Qalandars were synonymous with chaos and inconsistency. Big-name signings like Chris Gayle (2016), Brendon McCullum (2017-18), and AB De Villiers (2019) failed to inspire a turnaround. From 2016 to 2019, they languished at the bottom of the points table, lacking direction and coherence.
A glimmer of hope came in 2020 when the individual brilliance of Ben Dunk and David Wiese propelled them to their first-ever final. However, inconsistency returned in 2021, and the team once again failed to reach the playoffs.
Qalandars before 2022 Qalandars after 2022
Seasons: 6 Titles: 0 Seasons: 4 Titles: 3
The Shaheen era: A new dawn
The Qalandars’ resurgence began with a bold decision — handing the captaincy to a then-22-year-old Shaheen Shah Afridi in 2022. The gamble paid off handsomely. Under his leadership, Lahore lifted the PSL trophy in 2022, 2023, and 2025, making Shaheen the most successful captain in league history.
Bowling wins championships
Lahore Qalandars built a team around their strength — bowling. The 2022 title run featured a pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan, supported by David Wiese and the wily Rashid Khan. Mohammad Hafeez and Samit Patel added all-round utility, especially in the middle overs.
In the 2022 final, they skittled out Multan Sultans for just over 130 after setting a target of 181. With 3’3 scalps of each of Shaheen and Zaman, Hafeez’s 2 for 23 proved decisive. With Rashid available for the entire 2023 season, his presence became even more influential, delivering miserly spells and clutch breakthroughs.
Shaheen and Rauf, by then central to Pakistan’s national setup, consistently delivered under pressure. In 2023 final, Shaheen dismantled Multan’s middle order with three wickets in a single over, while Zaman defended 13 runs in the final over, nailing pinpoint yorkers.
2024 – A harsh reality check
The 2024 season, however, was a rude awakening. With Rashid Khan unavailable and Haris Rauf injured after four poor outings, the Qalandars collapsed — losing eight of their ten matches. Only Shaheen showed glimpses of fight. Critics pounced, pointing fingers at the missing Afghan leggie as the root cause of Lahore’s failure.
Strategic drafting and retention: The 2025 comeback
Refusing to dismantle the core, Qalandars went back to the drawing board ahead of PSL X. They added Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain to fill the gap of Rashid Khan, seasoned all-rounders like Sikandar Raza and Shakib Al Hasan as Hafeez was no longer playing for them, and bolstered the middle order with Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, and Kusal Perera.
Young opener Mohammad Naeem — a product of the Qalandars’ Player Development Programme — was slotted between Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique, forming a dangerous top three.
But cricket is a funny game. Despite all these calculated decisions and precise executions, during the group stages, Qalandars teetered on the brink of elimination. But in the final stretch, they clicked — especially with the bat. Five of the top ten six-hitters in PSL 2025 were Qalandars’ players:
- Fakhar Zaman: 24
- Mohammad Naeem: 23
- Sikandar Raza: 16
- Abdullah Shafique: 16
- Sam Billings: 13
Kusal Perera added nine sixes in just four games, including a blistering cameo in the final against Quetta Gladiators.
Shaheen’s redemption arc
Shaheen Afridi led from the front in the playoffs. His bowling figures in the knockouts — 2/19, 2/47, 3/3, and 3/24 — underlined his match-winning ability. In the final, Shaheen and Rauf dismantled Quetta’s middle order in two overs, conceding just eight runs and taking four wickets. Their burst saved an estimated 15-20 runs — crucial in the pressure of the final.
Shaheen finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets in 13 matches, while his teammate Haris Rauf remained no.6 as he claimed 17 scalps.
Leadership, loyalty, and Lahore’s philosophy
Post-final, a defiant Shaheen addressed his critics: “When we performed poorly in the PSL last year, a lot was said. It’s hurtful when fellow or former cricketers speak like that. They claimed that Lahore Qalandars lost because a certain player was missing and the team got exposed in his absence.”
His emotional response stemmed from the sting of past criticisms — especially after lacklustre performances of Pakistan in World Cup 2023, T20 World Cup 2024, and Champions Trophy 2025. While domestic triumphs cannot erase international setbacks, Shaheen’s PSL form is a reminder that his potential still burns bright.
Sitting beside him in the press conference was Sameen Rana, CEO of Lahore Qalandars. He interjected when emotions ran high, referring to Shaheen as “not a player, but a family member.”
Rana encapsulated Qalandars’ approach: “The advantage we have at Lahore Qalandars is we don’t judge our players. We back them. And when you truly back someone — results follow.”
Qalandars management’s unwavering belief in player development, retention of the core players, and a clearly defined team philosophy has turned their team from the league’s laughingstock into a model of consistency. With three titles in four seasons, they now share the mantle of PSL’s most successful franchise.
