Lahore Qalandars PSL 3 (2018) Match Highlights
PSL 3 (2018) Campaign Summary: Struggles Persist, Sparks of Potential
Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators | LQ Match 10 | PSL 3 | LQ 26
Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings | LQ Match 9 | PSL 3 | LQ 25
Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans | LQ Match 8 | PSL 3 | LQ 24
Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings | LQ Match 7 | PSL 3 | LQ 23
Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United | LQ Match 6 | PSL 3 | LQ 22
Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi | LQ Match 5 | PSL 3 | LQ 21
Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United | LQ Match 4 | PSL 3 | LQ 20
Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars | LQ Match 3 | PSL 3 | LQ 19
Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars | LQ Match 2 | PSL 3 | LQ 18
Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars | LQ Match 1 | PSL 3 | LQ 17
PSL 3 (2018) Campaign Summary: Struggles Persist, Sparks of Potential
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018, or PSL 3, was yet another challenging chapter for Lahore Qalandars, who, under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum, finished at the bottom of the six-team table with a disappointing record of 2 wins and 8 losses from their 10 league matches. Played across venues in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Sharjah) and Pakistan (Lahore and Karachi), the season saw Lahore grappling with familiar issues: inconsistent batting, erratic bowling, poor fielding, and a lack of team cohesion. Despite these struggles, individual performances from emerging talents like Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi, along with contributions from international stars like Sunil Narine, provided flickers of hope for a franchise desperate to shed its reputation as the PSL’s perennial underdogs. While PSL 3 extended Lahore’s streak of bottom-table finishes, it also planted the seeds for their eventual transformation in later seasons.
League Stage: A Tale of Missed Opportunities and Heavy Defeats
Lahore Qalandars entered PSL 3 with a squad that blended international experience with local potential. Brendon McCullum, a T20 legend, led a side featuring the likes of Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, and Umar Akmal, alongside young prospects like Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Agha Salman. The goal was to break free from the disappointments of PSL 1 and 2, where they had managed just one win each season. However, their campaign quickly unraveled, marked by a series of heavy losses that exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in all departments.
The season began on a sour note with a 6-wicket defeat to Islamabad United in Dubai on February 24, 2018. Batting first, Lahore posted a modest 159/7, with Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive 49 off 30 balls providing some impetus. However, their bowlers struggled to defend the total, as Islamabad’s Luke Ronchi smashed a blistering 77* off 41 balls to chase it down in just 17.2 overs. Lahore’s fielding woes were evident, with dropped catches and sloppy ground fielding easing the pressure on Islamabad’s batsmen. This loss set the tone for a campaign where close games slipped away and heavy defeats became all too common.
Another crushing blow came against Karachi Kings in Dubai on March 2, 2018, where Lahore suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat. Batting first, they collapsed to 159/9, with Umar Akmal’s 31 being the top score. Karachi’s openers, Joe Denly (79*) and Babar Azam (61*), chased the target in 15.5 overs without losing a wicket, exploiting Lahore’s wayward bowling. Pacers like Sohail Khan and Salman Irshad were expensive, and the absence of a potent second spinner alongside Narine hurt their ability to control the middle overs.
The Qalandars faced further embarrassment against Multan Sultans, a new franchise in PSL 3, in Dubai on March 9, 2018. Lahore posted a competitive 179/6, driven by Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 50 off 36 balls and a late cameo from Agha Salman (22 off 14). However, Multan’s batting, led by Kumar Sangakkara’s elegant 63 and Kieron Pollard’s powerful 52, chased the target in 18.4 overs for a 7-wicket win. Lahore’s bowlers, including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Yasir Shah, struggled to break partnerships, and their fielders let slip crucial chances, allowing Multan to cruise to victory.
A particularly demoralizing loss came against Peshawar Zalmi in Sharjah on March 3, 2018. Lahore were bowled out for a paltry 100 in 17.2 overs, with Hasan Ali (3/22) and Wahab Riaz (2/19) exploiting their brittle batting. Zalmi chased the target in just 13.4 overs without losing a wicket, with Kamran Akmal’s 57* and Darren Sammy’s 30* rubbing salt in Lahore’s wounds. This 10-wicket defeat was a low point, highlighting their inability to compete in both batting and bowling under pressure.
Moments of Brilliance: Rare Victories
Despite the string of losses, Lahore Qalandars managed two victories that showcased their potential and gave fans moments to cherish. Their first win came against Quetta Gladiators in Sharjah on March 14, 2018, a gritty 19-run victory on a low-scoring pitch. Batting first, Lahore struggled to 119/9, with Umar Akmal’s 24 and Brendon McCullum’s 15 offering some resistance against Quetta’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Anwar Ali (2/21). In response, Sunil Narine delivered a match-winning performance with the ball, taking 3/19 in four overs, including the wickets of Shane Watson and Rilee Rossouw. Yasir Shah supported with 2/28, and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s tight bowling ensured Quetta were restricted to 100/9. This victory, though modest, was a rare highlight, showing Lahore’s ability to fight when their bowlers clicked.
Their second win came against Multan Sultans in Sharjah on March 16, 2018, a more convincing 27-run triumph. Fakhar Zaman stole the show with a scintillating 94 off 50 balls, including 9 fours and 6 sixes, powering Lahore to an imposing 186/4. Contributions from Brendon McCullum (35) and Agha Salman (22) bolstered the total. In defense, Sunil Narine again led the way with 2/22, while Shaheen Shah Afridi’s raw pace accounted for key wickets. Multan were bowled out for 159, with Sohail Khan’s 55 being their best effort. This win highlighted Lahore’s attacking potential, particularly Fakhar’s ability to dominate and Narine’s all-round impact, but it came too late to salvage their campaign.
Key Performances and Players
Fakhar Zaman was the standout performer for Lahore, emerging as one of the PSL’s most exciting batsmen. His aggressive 94 against Multan Sultans was the season’s highlight, and his consistent starts, including 50 against Multan and 49 against Islamabad, made him the team’s batting linchpin. Umar Akmal showed flashes of his talent, like his 31 against Karachi, but his inconsistency frustrated fans. Brendon McCullum, despite his reputation as a T20 great, struggled with the bat, managing only modest scores like 35 against Multan. His leadership, while spirited, couldn’t overcome the team’s structural weaknesses.
Sunil Narine was Lahore’s most valuable player, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. His quickfire cameos, often in the lower order, added crucial runs, while his mystery spin, exemplified by 3/19 against Quetta, troubled batsmen consistently. Shaheen Shah Afridi, just 17 years old, showed immense promise as a left-arm pacer. His ability to swing the ball and bowl searing yorkers was evident, though his inexperience meant he wasn’t yet a finished product. Yasir Shah provided control in the spin department, but his wickets were limited, and other bowlers like Sohail Khan and Salman Irshad were often expensive, leaking runs in critical phases.
Agha Salman and Anton Devcich chipped in with occasional contributions, but the middle order, including players like Sohail Akhtar and Gulraiz Sadaf, lacked the firepower to rescue Lahore from collapses. Chris Lynn, expected to be a key batsman, underperformed, failing to deliver the big scores needed.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Lahore’s batting relied heavily on Fakhar Zaman, with the middle order crumbling under pressure in most matches. Their bowling showed promise, particularly through Shaheen’s pace and Narine’s spin, but lacked depth. The absence of a second reliable spinner was a major drawback in UAE conditions, where spin often dominates. Pace bowlers like Sohail Khan and Salman Irshad were inconsistent, and the team struggled with death bowling, often conceding runs in the final overs.
Fielding was a glaring weakness, with Lahore dropping crucial catches and misfielding at key moments. These errors turned competitive games into one-sided losses, as seen in their defeats to Islamabad and Multan. Team cohesion was another issue, with frequent changes in the batting order and bowling plans disrupting momentum. Brendon McCullum’s leadership brought energy, but tactical decisions, such as underutilizing Narine with the ball or failing to rotate bowlers effectively, cost them in tight situations.
Season Context and Impact
PSL 3 was a significant season for the league, as it marked the return of more matches to Pakistan, with the Eliminators and final played in Lahore and Karachi. The electric atmosphere in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for Lahore’s home games energized the team, but they couldn’t capitalize on home support. Islamabad United won the title, defeating Peshawar Zalmi in the final on March 25, 2018, in Karachi. For Lahore Qalandars, the season was their third consecutive bottom-table finish, reinforcing their underdog status. However, the emergence of Fakhar Zaman as a reliable opener and Shaheen Shah Afridi as a future bowling spearhead provided a silver lining.
The season also highlighted the growing pains of a franchise still finding its identity. Lahore’s management, led by coach Aqib Javed, focused on nurturing young talent, and players like Shaheen and Haris Rauf (who debuted briefly) benefited from early exposure. These investments would pay dividends in later seasons, particularly PSL 5 (2020) and PSL 7 (2022).
Legacy and Looking Ahead
PSL 3 was a season of frustration for Lahore Qalandars, but it wasn’t without hope. Fakhar Zaman’s rise as a T20 force and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s raw potential signaled a shift toward a brighter future. Sunil Narine’s all-round contributions provided stability, and the team’s two wins, though few, were a slight improvement over their one-win seasons in PSL 1 and 2. The campaign exposed ongoing issues—batting fragility, inconsistent bowling, poor fielding, and a lack of team unity—but it also laid the groundwork for future success.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional T20 cricket league launched by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2016. Featuring six city-based franchises—Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, and Multan Sultans—the league quickly gained popularity for its exciting matches and top-tier talent. Held annually, the PSL attracts international and local players, offering a platform for emerging Pakistani stars. Matches are played in Pakistan, with electrifying fan support. Islamabad United holds the most titles, while Lahore Qalandars are known for their incredible comeback stories. The PSL has played a key role in reviving cricket in Pakistan.