Lahore Qalandars finally won the Pakistan Super League (PSL) last year after six long years of waiting, defeating Multan Sultans in the championship game at Lahore’s famed Gaddafi Stadium.
The reigning champions are just two steps away from being the first team in PSL history to successfully defend their title.
The Qalandars now have a completely different appearance than they did prior to the seventh season of the league under the leadership of their new skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Shaheen has been Qalandars’ captain since last season, and the team’s steadiness under his leadership—winning seven out of ten games—shows the dedication the new captain has brought to the group.
The qualifying match between the Qalandars and Sultans, which is slated to take place on March 15 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, is currently in the Qalandars’ sights.
Strengths
Shaheen, the Qalandars’ captain, may be their greatest asset. The left-arm pacer’s ability to get a wicket in his opening over is uncanny.
In addition, the bowling lineup of the Qalandars, which includes players like Rashid Khan, Zaman Khan, and Haris Rauf, has been acknowledged as the finest of any T20 squad in the globe, not just in the PSL.
Rashid (15), Shaheen (14) and Haris (14) of the Qalandars are three bowlers who are currently among the top five wicket-takers in the ongoing PSL 8.
Fakhar Zaman, however, is the lynchpin of their batting order. In 10 league games, the latter has scored 378 runs, including his first PSL century. Fakhar can give the Qalandars an early start in opposition to any bowling attack.
Weaknesses
David Wiese, an accomplished all-rounder with a quick bowl, has been out of form this year, which is unfortunate for the Qalandars. The Namibian cricket player has yet to win any fans over with his match-winning skills.
Moreover, Hussain Talat, another all-rounder with a fast bowl, is also lacking his typical touch. Down their batting order, Qalandars lack a finisher who can also bowl wicket-taking overs.
Previous appearance in qualifier
Qalandars only faced Sultans in the PSL qualifying round once, which was the previous season.
The qualifying was a 28-run loss for them.
Probable lineup
Fakhar Zaman, Mirza Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Sam Billings, David Wiese, Hussain Talat, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Rashid Khan, Zaman Khan
