Not long ago, Lahore Qalandars were the PSL’s biggest disappointment—rich in passion but poor in results. Fast forward to 2025, and they’ve lifted the trophy three times in four years (2022, 2023, and 2025) under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi. What changed?
The short answer: visionary leadership behind the scenes.
This is the story of how a bold management decision, unwavering trust, and a culture of belief turned a struggling franchise into a T20 powerhouse—and a young pacer into the most successful captain in PSL history.
The Bold Call That Changed Everything
In December 2021, Qalandars made a decision nobody saw coming. They handed the captaincy to a 21-year-old Shaheen Shah Afridi. At that point, Afridi had no leadership record, no captaincy accolades—just raw pace, heart, and hunger.
Many doubted the move. But inside Qalandars’ camp, it wasn’t a gamble. It was a calculated bet on character.
The Turning Point
“I never really had any interest in captaincy,” Shaheen Afridi told ESPNcricinfo. “I’d maybe led once at Under-19 level, that’s it.”
But in 2021, everything changed. Sitting in the Prime Minister’s office with Sameen Rana and Aqib Javed, Shaheen received an unexpected endorsement. Then-Prime Minister—and cricket legend—Imran Khan looked him in the eye and said he should be captain.
“You can’t say no to Imran bhai,” Shaheen said.
That moment didn’t just shape a career—it reshaped the future of Lahore Qalandars.
Backed by Belief
At the time, Shaheen was already vice-captain. But it was Imran Khan’s conviction that shifted the momentum. With one bold suggestion, Qalandars had found their next leader.
To their credit, the management—led by Sameen Rana and Atif Rana—didn’t hesitate. They backed the call wholeheartedly and built the team around him.
That moment didn’t just launch Shaheen’s captaincy—it set the tone for a new era in Lahore Qalandars’ history.
Creating a Safe Space to Lead Boldly
Making Shaheen the captain was step one. Step two? Giving him room to grow.
Instead of micromanaging, Qalandars built an environment based on trust and freedom. Sameen Rana’s leadership mantra was clear: “Don’t judge players—back them.”
This hands-off, high-support model gave Afridi space to make bold decisions, experiment with tactics, and—even more importantly—fail without fear.
In PSL 9 (2024), when Qalandars won just one game, critics were loud. Afridi’s bowling, his body language, even his leadership was questioned. But Qalandars didn’t blink. They stood by him.
That belief paid off. In PSL 10, Afridi bounced back with fire—19 wickets, including 10 in the last four games, and led the Qalandars to a stunning third title.
Qalandars vs PCB: A Tale of Two Systems
Contrast that with Afridi’s brief captaincy stint for Pakistan in early 2024. The result? A 4-1 series loss to New Zealand, and a visibly shaken leader.
In the national setup, pressure suffocated him. Continuity was missing. Trust was fragile.
Back in the Qalandars’ camp, Afridi looked like a different man—relaxed, confident, creative. Why? Because he knew the management had his back. That’s why he could walk out in a final and smash 44 off 15 balls*, or bring himself on in clutch overs with no fear of blame.
The Engine Behind the Rise: Player Development Program (PDP)
Every great captain needs a strong team. The Qalandars’ Player Development Program (PDP) ensured Afridi had one.
This talent-hunting machine, one of its kind in Pakistan, uncovered stars like Haris Rauf, Mohammad Naeem, Salman Mirza, Tahir Baig and many more. These players weren’t just found—they were backed through thick and thin.
Take Salman Mirza. Unearthed in the 2016–17 PDP trials, he was groomed patiently: a PSL 6 debut, overseas exposure in Zimbabwe and Guyana, and finally a breakthrough in PSL 10. He grabbed 2 Player of the Match awards in just 4 games, powering Qalandars to their third title.
Or Naeem. Backed through failures and public criticism, Qalandars stayed the course. In PSL 10, he repaid their trust—exploding as an opener in the business end of the tournament.
This is what a working pipeline looks like.
Even Afridi’s own evolution—like his lower-order power-hitting—owes a nod to the Qalandars environment. It wasn’t just about winning matches. It was about developing people.
A Culture That Breeds Resilience
Afridi was never alone. Players like Rashid Khan, David Wiese, and Sikandar Raza weren’t just match-winners—they were leaders who perfectly complemented Afridi’s calm and instinctive style.
David Wiese, with Lahore Qalandars for six seasons, brought finishing flair and an unshakeable bond with captain Shaheen Afridi on the field. Their connection provided crucial support in high-pressure moments.
Rashid once said Afridi’s steady energy kept the dressing room grounded. That calm wasn’t accidental—it came from a management that never panicked, never interfered unnecessarily, and never broke faith after a single bad season.
In 2022, Afridi became the youngest captain ever to win a T20 league. The Qalandars didn’t rest there. They doubled down, kept the core together, and went back-to-back champions in 2023.
Even after the 2024 setback, loyalty remained their mantra. The team stayed united—and that faith paid off with a third title in 2025.
Sikandar Raza, a key all-rounder, scored 254 runs and took 10 wickets in PSL 10. In a testament to the team’s culture and support, Raza flew in from England and rejoined the squad just 10 minutes before the final. His match-winning knock sealed the championship, a perfect example of how Qalandars’ environment breeds resilience and rewards belief.
Draft Masterclass: How Qalandars Strategically Backed Their Captain
Afridi had ideas—but ideas need the right tools. Qalandars’ draft strategy gave him that edge.
Lahore Qalandars executed their retentions and draft flawlessly, with the pick of Kusal Perera standing out. Originally targeting Sam Billings in the Diamond round, Sameen Rana shifted quickly to secure Perera before his management even knew, valuing his explosive strike rate, solid average, and left-right batting balance.
Later, Qalandars added Sam Billings in the supplementary category, who proved his worth with strong league performances. This smart, data-driven strategy was key to their PSL 10 success.
For details, check Lahore Qalandars’ PSL 10 draft strategy here.
Three Titles. One Captain. One Vision.
The numbers say it all:
- 3 PSL titles (2022, 2023, 2025)
- 122 wickets across 8 PSL seasons
- 52.94% win rate as captain
- Countless match-winning moments
But the real story isn’t stats. It’s trust. It’s loyalty. It’s vision.
Qalandars took a call when others laughed. They backed a young man, built a family around him, and reaped the rewards of that belief.
Today, fans call Afridi the greatest PSL captain of all time. But they also credit the quiet force behind him: Qalandars’ management.
Sameen Rana once said, “We just made Shaheen feel loved.”
Turns out—that’s exactly what it takes to build a dynasty.
Also Read: Shaheen Shah Afridi’s PSL Captaincy: A Tale of Bold Risks and Three Titles in Four Years
