Lahore Qalandars facts for kids
| لہور قلندرز لاہور قلندرز |
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| Personnel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain | Shaheen Afridi | ||
| Coach | Darren Gough | ||
| Batting coach | Mansoor Rana | ||
| Bowling coach | Waqas Ahmed | ||
| Fielding coach | Shehzad Butt | ||
| Owner | Fawad Rana | ||
| Manager | Sameen Rana | ||
| Team information | |||
| City | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan | ||
| Founded | 2015 | ||
| Home ground | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | ||
| Capacity | 69,568 | ||
| History | |||
| Pakistan Super League wins | 2 (2022 & 2023) | ||
| Global Super League wins | 0 | ||
| Official website | lahoreqalandars.com | ||
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The Lahore Qalandars (often called LQ) is a professional cricket team from Pakistan. They play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), representing the city of Lahore, which is the capital of Punjab province. Their home ground is the Gaddafi Stadium.
The team is owned by the Rana Brothers. It was the second most expensive team when the PSL started. For a long time, the Qalandars finished last in the league. But they turned things around in 2022 and 2023, winning the PSL title two times in a row!
Currently, Shaheen Afridi is the team's captain. The team's top run-scorer is Fakhar Zaman, and Shaheen Afridi has taken the most wickets for the team.
Contents
Team History
In 2015, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the first ever Pakistan Super League (PSL). Five city-based teams were created. The Lahore team was bought by Kausar Rana Resources Private Limited Company for about US$25.1 million. This made them the second most expensive team in the league.
The Lahore Qalandars also have a special program called the "Players Development Program (PDP)". They hold trials across Pakistan to find new, young cricket talent. Some of these talented players even get to train in Australia!
Early Seasons (2016-2019)
The Lahore Qalandars had a tough start in the PSL.
- 2016 Season: Even with star players like Chris Gayle, the Qalandars finished last in the first PSL season. However, Umar Akmal was the top run-scorer of the tournament. The team also won the "Spirit of The Game" award for being fair.
- 2017 Season: Brendon McCullum became the new captain. The team had some exciting matches, but again, they finished at the bottom of the table and didn't make it to the playoffs.
- 2018 Season: The Qalandars continued to struggle, losing their first few games. They finished last for the third year in a row. However, they did win the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy later that year, which was a good sign!
- 2019 Season: With new international stars like AB De Villiers, hopes were high. But injuries and changes in captaincy meant they finished last again.
Turning Point (2020-Present)
Things started to change for the Lahore Qalandars from 2020.
- 2020 Season: This was a big year! For the first time ever, Lahore Qalandars reached the playoffs. They even made it to the final match, but they lost to Karachi Kings. This was a huge step forward for the team.
- 2021 Season: The Qalandars started strong, winning many matches. However, the season was paused due to COVID-19. When it restarted, they lost some important games and didn't make it to the playoffs, finishing with five wins and five losses.
- 2022 Season: This was a dream come true for the Qalandars! They played very well throughout the season. They won many close matches and showed great teamwork. They reached the final and became the champions of the PSL for the first time!
- 2023 Season: The Qalandars proved their win in 2022 wasn't a fluke. They played incredibly well again, finishing at the top of the league stage. They went on to win the final and became champions for the second year in a row! This made them the first team to win back-to-back PSL titles.
- 2024 Season: After two amazing years, the 2024 season was tough for the Qalandars. They struggled to win matches and finished at the bottom of the table.
Team Identity
The Lahore Qalandars team was officially launched 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. The team's logo shows a Sufi dancer, which represents the Sufi culture of the area.
The team's kit colors were red and black in the first season. From 2017 onwards, they changed to green and black.
Team Ambassadors
- From 2016 to 2018, famous film star Shaan was the team's brand ambassador.
- Since 2019, the team's captain, Shaheen Afridi, has been the brand ambassador.
Team Songs
- In 2016, the team's song was "Dama Dam Mast."
- In 2017, the official song was "Dama Dam Mast Lahore Qalandars," sung by Shafqat Amanat Ali.
Team Sponsors
Mobilink was the first main sponsor for the team. Other sponsors have included Alkaram, Geo TV, and Royal Palm.
| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) | 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 |
Team Rivalries
The Lahore Qalandars have a big rivalry with the Karachi Kings. This is considered the biggest rivalry in the PSL because Lahore and Karachi are two of Pakistan's largest cities with a long history of competition. Both teams have many fans, which makes their matches very exciting!
They also have a rivalry with the Multan Sultans, which is another team from the Punjab region. Matches between these two teams are sometimes called 'The Punjab Derby'.
Current Team Players
Here are some of the players currently on the Lahore Qalandars team. Players with international caps (meaning they have played for their country's national team) are shown in bold.
|
| No. | Name | Nationality | Birth date | Category | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | ||||||||
| 15 | Mirza Tahir Baig |  Pakistan |
11 March 1999 | Silver | Right-handed | — | 2023 | |
| 28 | Dan Lawrence |  England |
12 July 1997 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2024 | |
| 39 | Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan |
10 April 1990 | Platinum | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2017 | |
| 51 | Sahibzada Farhan | Pakistan |
6 March 1996 | Diamond | Right-handed | – | 2024 | |
| 54 | Bhanuka Rajapaksa |  Sri Lanka |
24 October 1991 | Supplementary | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | 2024 | |
| 57 | Abdullah Shafique | Pakistan |
20 November 1999 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | 2022 | |
| 72 | Rassie van der Dussen |  South Africa |
7 February 1989 | Platinum | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2024 | |
| All-rounders | ||||||||
| 1 | Salman Fayyaz | Pakistan |
11 August 1997 | N/A | Left-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2024 | Partial replacement for Bhanuka Rajapaksa |
| 06 | George Linde | South Africa |
4 December 1991 | N/A | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2024 | Full replacement for Rashid Khan |
| 24 | Sikandar Raza |  Zimbabwe |
24 April 1986 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2023 | |
| 26 | Carlos Brathwaite |  West Indies |
18 July 1998 | N/A | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | Partial replacement for Shai Hope |
| 27 | David Wiese |  Namibia |
18 May 1985 | Diamond | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2019 | Vice-captain |
| 33 | Ahsan Hafeez | Pakistan |
30 March 1998 | Silver | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2023 | |
| 82 | Kamran Ghulam | Pakistan |
10 October 1995 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2024 | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||||
| 3 | Lorcan Tucker |  Ireland |
10 September 1996 | N/A | Right-handed | — | 2024 | Partial replacement for Dan Lawrence |
| 4 | Shai Hope | West Indies |
10 November 1993 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Left-arm medium | 2023 | |
| 77 | Sam Billings | England |
15 June 1991 | N/A | Right-handed | — | 2023 | Full replacement for Rassie van der Dussen |
| Bowlers | ||||||||
| 10 | Shaheen Afridi | Pakistan |
6 April 2000 | Platinum | Left-handed | Left-arm fast | 2018 | Captain |
| 11 | Jahandad Khan | Pakistan |
16 June 2003 | Emerging | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | 2024 | |
| 12 | Zaman Khan | Pakistan |
10 September 2001 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2022 | |
| 14 | Mohammad Imran | Pakistan |
20 January 2001 | Silver | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | 2024 | |
| 17 | Syed Faridoun | Pakistan |
15 May 2001 | Emerging | Right-handed | Left-arm unorthodox | 2024 | |
| 19 | Rashid Khan |  Afghanistan |
20 September 1998 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2021 | |
| 150 | Haris Rauf | Pakistan |
7 November 1993 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2019 | |
| 455 | Tayyab Abbas | Pakistan |
15 September 1993 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | |
- Source: ESPNcricinfo
Team Management
Here are the people who manage and coach the Lahore Qalandars team:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Fawad Rana | Owner |
| Sameen Rana | Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Manager |
| Darren Gough | Director of Cricket Operations and Head Coach |
| Farooq Anwar | Assistant Team Manager |
| Mansoor Rana | Batting Coach |
| Waqas Ahmed | Bowling Coach |
| Shehzad Butt | Fielding Coach |
| Ben Dunk | Power-hitting Coach |
| Hiten Maisuria | Physiotherapist (helps players with injuries) |
| Nabeel Edgar Pace | Data Analyst (studies player performance) |
| Malang Ali | Masseur (helps players relax and recover) |
- Sources:
Team Captains
Here is a list of players who have captained the Lahore Qalandars 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 | 34 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52.94 |
| David Wiese | 2023 | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo, Last updated: 12 March 2024
Team Results
Overall Performance in PSL
This table shows how Lahore Qalandars have performed in each PSL season:
| Year | Pld | Won | Loss | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | SR (%) | Position | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 | 5/5 | Last Place |
| 2017 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 | 5/5 | Last Place |
| 2018 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30.00 | 6/6 | Last Place |
| 2019 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30.00 | 6/6 | Last Place |
| 2020 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53.85 | 2/6 | Runners-up (Finished 2nd) |
| 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 | 0 | 11.11 | 6/6 | Last Place |
| Total | 94 | 40 | 51 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42.55 | 2 titles |
Source: ESPNcricinfo, Last updated: 12 March 2024
Head-to-Head Records
This shows how Lahore Qalandars have performed against other teams.
Against PSL Teams
| 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 |
Against Non-PSL Teams
The Qalandars have also played against a few teams outside of the PSL:
| Opposition | Years | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | SR (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo, Last updated: 12 March 2024
Player Statistics
Most Runs Scored
These players have scored the most runs for Lahore Qalandars:
| 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
These players have taken the most wickets for Lahore Qalandars:
| 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–present | 28 | 44 | 5/20 |
| Zaman Khan | 2022–present | 35 | 44 | 4/16 |
| David Wiese | 2019–present | 51 | 38 | 3/17 |
- Source: ESPNcricinfo
