Lahore Qalandars PSL 2024 Campaign Summary: A Season to Forget

The 2024 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 9) was meant to be historic for Lahore Qalandars. After winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, expectations were sky-high. With Shaheen Shah Afridi at the helm and Aaqib Javed calling the shots, fans dreamed of a rare hat-trick. But reality had other plans. What unfolded instead was a season of setbacks, slip-ups, and soul-searching.

1. Team Snapshot: The Champions Who Lost Their Way

Lahore Qalandars aren’t just a cricket team—they’re a movement. Known for their passionate fanbase, their pioneering Player Development Program (PDP),and fans who carry the hopes of Lahore every season. But PSL 9 tested that spirit like never before.

Squad Overview

The 2024 squad was a mix of tried-and-tested matchwinners and fresh blood. Eight players from the title-winning 2023 team were retained. Key names included:

• Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Batting Core: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Rassie van der Dussen
• Pace Unit: Shaheen, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
• All-Rounders: David Wiese, Sikandar Raza
• Foreign Firepower: Shai Hope, Carlos Brathwaite, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rassie, Daniel Lawrence
• Emerging Talent: Salman Fayyaz, Ahsan Bhatti, Tayyab Abbas, Faridoun

But one big piece was missing—Rashid Khan. The Afghan superstar’s absence due to injury left a massive gap, especially in the middle overs.

2. Tournament Context: PSL 9 at a Glance

PSL 2024 ran from February 17 to March 18, across Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan. As defending champions, Lahore Qalandars were expected to dominate, especially with home matches at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium.

But the Qalandars never really got going.

3. Performance Breakdown: From Champions to Cellar-Dwellers

Matches Played: 10
Wins: 1
Losses: 8
No Result: 1
Points: 3
Final Standing: 6th (Last)
Win Percentage: 10%

It was, by far, the worst campaign in Qalandars’ history since their early seasons.

Key Matches That Told the Story

• Match 1 vs. Islamabad United (Feb 17, Gaddafi Stadium)
  Lost by 8 wickets. A shaky start. Despite a decent total, Islamabad chased it easily. Bowling lacked bite.
  Notable Debuts: Ubaid Shah (Islamabad), Salman Fayyaz (Lahore)
• Match 4 vs. Quetta Gladiators (Feb 19)
  Lost by 5 wickets. Poor death bowling and sloppy fielding cost Lahore a winnable game.
• Match 7 vs. Multan Sultans (Feb 21)
  Lost by 5 wickets. Multan’s chase looked easy. Rashid Khan’s absence stood out here.
• Match 10 vs. Karachi Kings (Feb 24)
  Lost by just 2 wickets. A thriller that slipped away in the final overs—again, fielding lapses proved fatal.
• Match vs. Peshawar Zalmi
  No Result (Rain). Lahore’s only game that didn’t end in defeat.
• The Lone Win
  Lahore did manage to notch up one solitary win—a small flicker in a dark season. They even scored 241/3 in one match, showing what could’ve been. But that spark never turned into fire.

4. What Went Wrong: A Season of Shortfalls

Batting

Fakhar Zaman did his bit. So did van der Dussen. But there was no consistent support. Youngsters like Abdullah Shafique and Sahibzada Farhan had moments, but couldn’t carry games. The batting line-up lacked that killer instinct, especially in chases.

Bowling

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf gave it their all. Zaman Khan kept fighting. But without Rashid Khan, the spin department was toothless. Opponents regularly took the Qalandars’ bowlers apart in the final overs.

Fielding

One word: costly. Dropped catches. Misfields. Panic under pressure. Despite efforts from the coaching staff, the fielding never rose to playoff standards.

All-Rounders

Sikandar Raza and David Wiese, once clutch performers, looked out of rhythm. Their impact was nowhere near what fans had come to expect from the 2022 and 2023 glory runs.

5. Challenges That Derailed the Campaign

• Rashid Khan’s Absence: The biggest blow. Rashid wasn’t just a spinner—he was a game-changer.
• Lack of Bench Strength: The depth was exposed when Plan A didn’t work.
• Inconsistent Performances: Stars fired in patches. No real team synergy.
• Leadership Pressure: Shaheen had the responsibility, the vision—but the team around him wasn’t executing.

6. Final Word: Where Do Qalandars Go From Here?

From champions to last place in just one season—it’s a brutal reminder of how fast fortunes change in T20 cricket. Lahore Qalandars now face a tough off-season. Big questions await:

• Will Rashid return?
• Will they rebuild around Shaheen or rethink leadership?
• Can they fix the middle order and fielding woes?

For now, PSL 2024 will go down as a painful but possibly necessary wake-up call.

The fans still believe. But the Qalandars must rise again—smarter, sharper, and hungrier.

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