The Lahore Qalandars are a professional cricket franchise based in Lahore, Pakistan. The team was formed in 2015 as part of the inaugural season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Fawad Rana is the owner and CEO of the franchise.
In their first three seasons, from 2016 to 2018, they finished at or near last place in each campaign. However, they showed signs of improvement during PSL 4 when they made it to playoffs for the first time but lost against Karachi Kings by just one run.
Despite their lackluster performance on-field, off-field activities have been successful with initiatives such as player development programs and talent hunts across different regions within Punjab province.
Overall, while still seeking success on field through consistent performances and results that match fan expectations; there is no doubt that this young franchise has already had an impact on Pakistani cricket landscape both domestically and internationally.
Key Players in the Current Squad
The Lahore Qalandars have a strong squad of players for the upcoming season. The team has some big names like Mohammad Hafeez, Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar Zaman who are expected to lead from the front. Hafeez is an experienced all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball while Afridi is one of Pakistan's most promising young fast bowlers.
Fakhar Zaman, on the other hand, is known for his explosive batting at the top of the order. Other key players include David Wiese from South Africa who brings experience as an all-rounder along with Samit Patel from England who adds depth to their spin bowling department.
In addition to these established stars, Lahore Qalandars also have some exciting young talent such as Haris Rauf and Dilbar Hussain who impressed in previous seasons. Overall, this mix of youth and experience makes them a formidable side that could challenge for honours in this year's tournament.
Performance Analysis of Previous Seasons
Lahore Qalandars have had a disappointing run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) since their inception in 2016. They finished last in the first two seasons and fifth out of six teams in the third season. However, they showed some improvement by reaching the playoffs for the first time ever during PSL 4 but were knocked out after losing to Islamabad United.
One major issue that has plagued Lahore Qalandars is their inconsistency on both ends of play - batting and bowling. While they have some big names like Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and David Wiese among others who can perform well individually; as a team unit they often fail to deliver consistent performances throughout an entire tournament.
Another problem area has been their fielding which has let them down at crucial moments leading to losses or missed opportunities. With these issues identified from past seasons' performance analysis, it will be interesting to see how Lahore Qalandars address them going forward into future tournaments.