Lahore Qalandars facts for kids
| لہور قلندرز (Punjabi) لاہور قلندرز (Urdu) |
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| Personnel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain |  Shaheen Afridi |
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| Coach |  Russell Domingo |
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| Batting coach | Amjad Ali |
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| Bowling coach | Kashif Raza |
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| Fielding coach | Shehzad Butt |
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| Owner | Atif Rana |
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| Manager | Sameen Rana Jang Media Group |
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| Team information | |||
| City | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan | ||
| Founded | 2015 | ||
| Home ground | Gaddafi Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 35,000 | ||
| History | |||
| Pakistan Super League wins | 3 (2022 , 2023 & 2025) | ||
| Official website | lahoreqalandars.com | ||
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The Lahore Qalandars is a professional cricket team from Pakistan. They play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The team represents the city of Lahore, which is the capital of Punjab.
The Lahore Qalandars are the current champions of the PSL. They are also the most successful team in the tournament's history. Their home ground is the Gaddafi Stadium. The team is owned by the Rana Brothers. Currently, Shaheen Afridi is the captain and Russell Domingo is the coach.
The Lahore Qalandars were the second most expensive team when the PSL started. They have finished last in the points table five times. However, they have also won the most titles, winning in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Fakhar Zaman has scored the most runs for the team. Shaheen Afridi has taken the most wickets.
Contents
- Team History in the PSL
- 2016 Season: Starting Out
- 2017 Season: New Captain, New Hopes
- 2018 Season: More Challenges
- 2019 Season: Changes in Leadership
- 2020 Season: First Time in Playoffs
- 2021 Season: A Mixed Bag
- 2022 Season: Becoming Champions
- 2023 Season: Defending the Title
- 2024 Season: A Tough Year
- 2025 Season: Champions Again!
- Team Identity and Spirit
- Current Team Players
- Team Management and Coaches
- Team Captains Over the Years
- Team Performance in PSL
- Team Statistics
Team History in the PSL
In 2015, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the first Pakistan Super League (PSL) season. It was held in February 2016 in the United Arab Emirates. The Lahore team was bought by Kausar Rana Resources Private Limited Company. They paid US$25.1 million for ten years. This made them the second most expensive team at the time.
The Lahore Qalandars also have a special program. It is called the Players Development Program (PDP). Through this program, they find new young cricket players. They hold trials in different cities in Pakistan. Some players even get to train in Australia.
2016 Season: Starting Out
The Qalandars picked famous players like Chris Gayle and Umar Akmal. They started the tournament with two losses. Their first win was against Quetta Gladiators. The team only won two out of eight matches. They finished last in the first PSL season. Despite this, Umar Akmal was the top run-scorer. He won the 'Best Batsman' award. The Qalandars also received the "Spirit of The Game" award.
2017 Season: New Captain, New Hopes
For the 2017 season, Chris Gayle was traded. Brendon McCullum from New Zealand became the new captain. The team picked new players like Yasir Shah and Sunil Narine. They kept players like Umar Akmal.
Lahore Qalandars lost their first game in 2017. But they won their next match against Islamabad United. They had a tough game against Peshawar Zalmi, getting out for only 59 runs. Later, they won a close match against their rivals, Karachi Kings. However, they finished last again and did not make it to the playoffs.
2018 Season: More Challenges
The Qalandars lost their first three games in 2018. They had trouble with their batting. They lost a very close match to Islamabad United. The game even went to a Super Over, which they lost. They also lost to Peshawar Zalmi with all 10 wickets remaining. This meant Lahore was the first team out of the tournament.
In July 2018, the Qalandars were invited to play in the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy. They won the tournament in October 2018. They beat Titans in the final.
2019 Season: Changes in Leadership
The team brought in many new players for 2019. These included international stars like AB De Villiers and Mohammad Hafeez. Mohammad Hafeez was supposed to be the captain. But he got injured. Then, AB De Villiers captained for two matches. Fakhar Zaman led the team for the rest of the season. They finished last again, winning only three out of ten matches.
2020 Season: First Time in Playoffs
In the 2020 PSL, Lahore Qalandars finally reached the playoffs! This was a big step for them. They finished fourth in the league. They beat Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans to reach the final. However, they lost to Karachi Kings in the final.
2021 Season: A Mixed Bag
The 2021 season started great for Lahore Qalandars. They won their first four matches. But the season was stopped because of COVID-19. When it restarted, they won a very close match against Islamabad United. They also won against Peshawar Zalmi. But then they lost their next matches. They did not make it to the playoffs. They ended the tournament with five wins and five losses.
2022 Season: Becoming Champions
Lahore Qalandars started the 2022 PSL season with a loss. But they quickly bounced back. They won against Karachi Kings with a century by Fakhar Zaman. They also beat Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United in close games. They won their next match against Multan Sultans.
The Qalandars played very well throughout the season. They reached the final and won the 2022 PSL title. This was their first championship!
2023 Season: Defending the Title
The Lahore Qalandars entered the 2023 Pakistan Super League as defending champions. Shaheen Afridi was still their captain. They kept many of their key players like Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf. Their goal was to be the first team to win back-to-back PSL titles.
They had a strong league season, winning 7 out of 10 matches. They finished at the top of the table. In the playoffs, they lost to Multan but then beat Peshawar Zalmi. In the final, they played Multan Sultans again. Lahore scored 200 runs. Shaheen Afridi scored 44 runs quickly and took 4 wickets. Lahore won by just 1 run, making history. They became the first team to win two PSL titles in a row!
2024 Season: A Tough Year
The Lahore Qalandars aimed for a third straight title in the 2024 Pakistan Super League. However, this season was their toughest. They won only one of their ten matches. They finished last in the standings.
Key player Rashid Khan was injured, which hurt their bowling. The team also made fielding mistakes and had inconsistent performances. Their campaign ended with just one win. It was a big change from being champions to finishing last.
2025 Season: Champions Again!
The Lahore Qalandars had an amazing season in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL X). They won their third title in four years (2022, 2023, 2025). This made them as successful as Islamabad United, with the most PSL titles.
The Qalandars started with a loss but quickly bounced back. They had big wins against Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings. Some international players were not available. But local players like Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique stepped up. They finished fourth in the league stage.
In the playoffs, Lahore beat Karachi Kings. Then they defeated Islamabad United by a large margin. Players like Kusal Perera and Mohammad Naeem played very well. Sikandar Raza also returned for the final.
In the final on May 25 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore chased down 202 runs to beat Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets. Even with injuries to key players during the match, Lahore won. Perera scored 62 runs, Raza scored 22 runs quickly, and Afridi took 3 wickets.
This third title showed how successful their Player Development Program is. Young players like Naeem and Salman Mirza performed well under pressure. The team's community work and strong fan support also make them very popular.
Team Identity and Spirit
The Lahore Qalandars team was started on December 12, 2015. The name "Qalandars" was chosen to show the Sufi culture of Lahore. A "Qalandar" is a term for Sufi mystics or saints in Pakistan. Their shrines are visited by many people.
The team's logo shows a Sufi dancer. It has three cricket stumps and a cricket ball. This also represents the Sufi culture of the area. In their first season, the team's colors were red and black. For the 2017 season, they changed red to green.
Team Ambassadors
Famous film star Shaan was the team's brand ambassador from 2016 to 2018. Since 2019, Shaheen Afridi has been the brand ambassador.
Team Songs
The team's song in 2016 was "Dama Dam Mast." It had two versions. One was by Asrar and the other by Nabeel Shaukat Ali. The official song for 2017 was "Dama Dam Mast Lahore Qalandars." It was sung by Shafqat Amanat Ali.
Team Sponsors
Mobilink was the team's first main sponsor. Alkaram, a textile company, was also a sponsor. Geo TV is their media partner. Royal Palm is their hospitality partner.
| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Chest branding | Sleeve branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Millat Sports | Jazz | Al-Karam Textiles | Geo News | QALCO, Mobilink |
| 2017 | QALCO, Huawei, Royal Palm | ||||
| 2018 | Ecostar | Gree | Bank of Punjab, ZXMCO, Royal Palm | ||
| 2019 | Mughal Steel | QALCO, Lays | |||
| 2020 | Hashmi Ispaghol | Mughal Steel | |||
| 2021 | B4U Cabs | Bravo Super Market | Mughal Steel, Revolt | ||
| 2022 | Marina Sports City | Al Jalil Garden | Mughal Steel | Bank of Punjab, AirSial, Kausar Rana Trust | |
| 2023 | Qalandars City | MELBET | Bank of Punjab, AirSial | ||
| 2024 | Gym Armour | Pakistan State Oil | Lahore Entertainment City | Bank of Punjab, AirSial, Kausar Rana Trust | |
| 2025 | Grip Active | Smog Free Punjab | Al-Fatah | Bank of Punjab, AirSial, RUDA |
Team Rivalries
The Qalandars have a big rivalry with Karachi Kings. This is seen as the biggest rivalry in the PSL. It is due to the history between the two cities. As of the 2021 season, they have played 14 times. Qalandars have won 6 of those matches. Both teams have many fans, which makes their games exciting.
They also have a growing rivalry with Multan Sultans. This is called 'The Punjab Derby'.
Current Team Players
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| No. | Name | Nationality | Birth date | Category | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | |||||||||
| 39 | Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan |
10 April 1990 | Platinum | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2017 | ||
| 45 | Asif Ali | Pakistan |
1 October 1991 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm offbreak | 2025 | ||
| 57 | Abdullah Shafique | Pakistan |
20 November 1999 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm offbreak | 2022 | ||
| 75 | Daryl Mitchell |  New Zealand |
20 May 1991 | Platinum | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2025 | ||
| 18 | Moshin Qamar | Pakistan |
1 December 2006 | Emerging | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2025 | ||
| 17 | Muhammad Naeem | Pakistan |
10 April 1999 | Supplementary | Right-handed | — | 2025 | ||
| All-rounders | |||||||||
| 11 | Jahandad Khan | Pakistan |
16 June 2003 | Gold | Left-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | 2024 | Vice Captain | |
| 22 | Rishad Hossain |  Bangladesh |
5 August 2000 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm Leg Spin | 2025 | ||
| 53 | Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Bangladesh |
October 25, 1997 | Right-Handed | Right-arm off-break | 2025 | |||
| 75 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh |
March 24, 1987 | Left-Handed | Slow left arm | 2025 | |||
| 24 | Sikandar Raza |  Zimbabwe |
24 April 1986 | Diamond | Right-handed | Right-arm offbreak, legbreak | 2023 | ||
| 27 | David Wiese |  Namibia |
18 May 1985 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2019 | ||
| 31 | Asif Afridi | Pakistan |
25 December 1987 | Silver | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2025 | ||
| 59 | Tom Curran |  England |
12 March 1995 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ||
| Wicket-Keepers | |||||||||
| 50 | Muhammad Akhlaq | Pakistan |
12 January 1993 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2025 | ||
| 55 | Kusal Perera |  Sri Lanka |
17 August 1990 | Diamond | Left-handed | — | 2025 | ||
| 77 | Sam Billings | England |
15 June 1991 | Supplementary | Right-handed | — | 2023 | ||
| Bowlers | |||||||||
| 10 | Shaheen Afridi | Pakistan |
6 April 2000 | Platinum | Left-handed | Left-arm fast | 2018 | Captain | |
| 12 | Zaman Khan | Pakistan |
10 September 2001 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2022 | ||
| 150 | Haris Rauf | Pakistan |
7 November 1993 | Diamond | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2019 | ||
| 20 | Mohammad Azab | Pakistan |
15 March 2005 | Emerging | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | 2025 | ||
| 82 | Salman Mirza | Pakistan |
1 January 1994 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Left-arm fast-medium | 2025 | ||
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Team Management and Coaches
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Arslan Ahmed Jang Media Group Atif Rana |
OEO and Manager and Owner |
| Russell Domingo |
Head coach |
| Farooq Anwar |
Assistant team manager |
| Amjad Ali |
Batting coach |
| Kashif Raza |
Bowling coach |
| Shehzad Butt |
Fielding coach |
 Timroy Allen |
Power-hitting coach |
 Hiten Maisuria |
Physiotherapist |
| Waseef Khalid Khan |
Data analyst |
| Rehan Ashraf Chohan |
Masseur |
- Simon Paul – Sports Massage Therapist
Team Captains Over the Years
| Name | From | To | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie+W | Tie+L | NR | Win(%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azhar Ali |
2016 | 2016 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
 Dwayne Bravo |
2016 | 2016 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brendon McCullum |
2017 | 2018 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Mohammad Hafeez |
2019 | 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| AB de Villiers |
2019 | 2019 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Fakhar Zaman |
2019 | 2019 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Sohail Akhtar |
2020 | 2021 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52.17 |
| Shaheen Afridi |
2022 | present | 47 | 26 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57.52 |
| David Wiese |
2023 | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Team Performance in PSL
Overall Results
| Year | Pld | Won | Loss | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | SR (%) | Position | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 | 5/5 | League Stage |
| 2017 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 | 5/5 | League Stage |
| 2018 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30.00 | 6/6 | League Stage |
| 2019 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30.00 | 6/6 | League Stage |
| 2020 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53.85 | 2/6 | Runners-up |
| 2021 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | 5/6 | League Stage |
| 2022 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 65.39 | 2/6 | Champions |
| 2023 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69.23 | 1/6 | Champions |
| 2024 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11.11 | 6/6 | League Stage |
| 2025 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 65.39 | 1/6 | Champions |
| Total | 94 | 40 | 51 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 42.55 | 3 titles |
- Tie+W means matches tied and then won in a tiebreaker (like a Super Over).
- Tie+L means matches tied and then lost in a tiebreaker.
- The win percentage does not count "no results" matches.
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Head-to-Head Records in PSL
| Opposition | Years | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | SR (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad United | 2016–present | 19 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47.36 |
| Karachi Kings | 2016–present | 19 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26.31 |
| Multan Sultans | 2018–present | 19 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47.37 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 2016–present | 19 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42.10 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2016–present | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Head-to-Head Records Against Other Teams
| Opposition | Years | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | SR (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guyana Amazon Warriors | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Marylebone Cricket Club | 2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Titans | 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Yorkshire | 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Hampshire | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Victoria | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Rangpur Riders | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Team Statistics
Most Runs Scored
| Player | Years | Innings | Runs | Highest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 2017–present | 84 | 2,525 | 115 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 2019–2022 | 37 | 925 | 98* |
| Sohail Akhtar | 2018–2022 | 42 | 808 | 75 |
| Abdullah Shafique | 2022–present | 26 | 678 | 75 |
| David Wiese | 2019–present | 44 | 624 | 48* |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Most Wickets Taken
| Player | Years | Innings | Wickets | Best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 2018–present | 74 | 108 | 5/4 |
| Haris Rauf | 2018–present | 59 | 68 | 4/23 |
| Rashid Khan | 2021–2023 | 28 | 44 | 5/20 |
| Zaman Khan | 2022–present | 35 | 44 | 4/16 |
| David Wiese | 2019–present | 51 | 38 | 3/17 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
