Lahore Qalandars in PSL 9 – A Season to Forget

After back-to-back championship highs, Lahore Qalandars’ PSL 9 campaign (2024) turned into a painful reminder that momentum doesn’t last forever. The defending champions struggled to find rhythm, consistency, or answers—crashing out of the playoff race far earlier than anyone expected.

When the Fall Began

The cracks showed early, but one match summed it all up: against Islamabad United, Lahore was comfortably placed at 77/2 chasing just 122. What followed was a stunning collapse to 115/9, forcing a Super Over. Lahore posted 16—but Islamabad chased it down with a last-ball six. That moment felt like a mirror shattering.

The Historic Low

Another painful memory came against Peshawar Zalmi. Lahore started strong at 56/0, then suddenly folded for 100 all out. What happened next was history—Zalmi chased the target without losing a single wicket. That defeat officially knocked Lahore out of playoff contention. From champions to the first team eliminated—the fall was steep.

Any Silver Linings?

There were flashes of spirit. Debutant Salman Irshad showed heart with the ball. A few young names stepped up in tough situations. But isolated efforts couldn’t save a season built on inconsistency and sudden collapses.

Final Standing

Lahore Qalandars finished at the bottom of the table, a shocking end to a team that had once inspired millions with its rise. PSL 9 wasn’t just a bad season—it was a hard lesson in humility, rebuilding, and the cruel pace of professional sport.