Today let’s look into the Lahore Qalandars Squad analysis for PSL 2023. Lahore Qalandars retained their core players for PSL 8 who made them champions for PSL 7. They build their team on that main core. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Rashid Khan, David Wiese and Zaman Khan. These core players again played 70% of the contribution in winning the PSL 8 final for their team. But critically some of their draft picks were not wise. There was a lot of criticism on picking Hussain Talat for the diamond category. Again pick of Jordan Cox was not liked as a supplementary player for the wicketkeeping slot of Lahore Qalandars as this time the biggest pool of international stars was available for the PSL 8 draft. I think at least two best picks are missed by Lahore Qalandars this time.
Lahore Qalandars Team Owner
The Lahore Qalandars was bought by Kausar Rana Resources Private Limited Company for US$25.1 million owned by the famous Rana Brothers, Jawad Rana, and Fawad Rana. It was the second most expensive purchase after Karachi Kings at that time.
Lahore Qalandars History
Lahore Qalandars is a professional T20 cricket franchise from Pakistan that plays in the Pakistan Super League PSL cricket league. They are playing the tournament since its first season in 2015 and were also the winners of PSL 7 2022. They represent the capital city of Punjab and their home ground is Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
First, four seasons (2016-2019) were very poor for the franchise as they always came at the bottom. This is because there was clearly a lack of proper planning in team selection.
For season 2020, they played the final and lost to Karachi Kings in PSL 5. For season 2021, they again came at the bottom of the table.
For season 2022, they won the maiden PSL trophy with Shaheen Shah Afridi being the captain of the team.
Lahore Qalandars Kit for PSL 2023
They are using two kits. One with the color green and black. The other with red and black in color. The light green color is for home matches. While red is for away matches.
Lahore Qalandars Logo
The name Qalandar itself was representing the Sufi culture of Pakistan and Lahore. The logo was also designed by keeping Sufism in mind, it shows a beautiful blend of cricket and Sufism.
When PSL 8 will Start
The 3rd best cricket T20 league in the world will kick start from the next year on February 9, 2023, to March 19 with Karachi, Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi selected as host venues for PSL 8.
Players salaries and categories in PSL
The highest category is of Platinum. In this category, players earn US$ 170K equivalent to PKR 40800000. Diamond category players earn US$ 130K equivalent to PKR 31200000. Gold category players earn US$ 60K equivalent to PKR 14400000. Silver Category players earn US$ 30K equivalent to PKR 7200000 in Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Lahore Qalandars Retention List for PSL 2023
The retention will be followed by a draft, where sides can select 18 players for 2023. Players have been divided into the following categories – Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Emerging, and Supplementary.
All the teams are required to complete a squad of 18 players, which will include three players each in the platinum, diamond, and gold categories, five in the silver category, two in emerging, and up to two in supplementary categories.
Retained Players of Lahore Qalandars for PSL 2023
1. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum) 2.Rashid Khan (Platinum) 3. Haris Rauf (Diamond & Brand Ambassador) 4. David Wiese (Diamond)5. Abdullah Shafique (Gold)6. Kamran Ghulam (Silver) 7. Harry Brook (Silver) 8. Zaman Khan (Emerging).
Surprise Exclusion of Fakhar Zaman’s name in Lahore Qalandars retention list of PSL 8
Surprisingly defending champions Lahore Qalandars did not retain batter Fakhar Zaman for the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Fakhar’s name was not on the list of players retained by Qalandars. This is the second time in a row the Qalandars didn’t retain the aggressive batter.
In last year’s edition, the Qalandars did not retain Fakhar and then picked him in the draft. We might see the same in the draft of PSL 2023, which is expected to be held towards the end of November.
Fakhar Zaman was the top-order batter of PSL and scored 584 runs with an average of 53.09 and SR of 155.31. Fakhar Zaman scored one hundred and seven fifties in 11 innings. Fans also noticed and questioned Fakhar’s absence from Qalandars’ retained players list.
However, pacer Haris Rauf has been confirmed as a retention in the Diamond category as the franchise made him the brand ambassador, which means the defending champions have the chance to get back Fakhar Zaman in the Platinum Category as they will have the first pick in the draft.
Lahore Qalandars Draft Picks of PSL 8
PSL 8 draft was held on 15th December 2022 in Karachi.1st pick for the Platinum category belonged to Lahore Qalandars and they picked Fakhar Zaman as their 3rd Platinum player for PSL 8 as expected.
In the diamond category, Lahore Qalandars picked Hussain Talat as an all-rounder player. In the Gold category, they picked Sikander Raza and Liam Dawson. Lahore Qalandars picked Dilbar Hussain, Ahmed Danial, and Mirza Tahir Baig in the silver category. All three players are products of the Lahore Qalandars Player Development Program (PDP).
In the emerging category, Lahore Qalandar went for Shawaiz Irfan and Zaman Khan. For the supplementary category, they went for Jordan Cox and Jalat Khan.
Lahore Qalandars Complete Squad for PSL 8
1. Shaheen Shah Afridi Captain (Platinum), 2.Rashid Khan (Platinum & Overseas), 3. Fakhar Zaman (Platinum), 4. Haris Rauf also Brand Aambassardor (Diamond), 5.David Wiese (Diamond & Overseas),6. Hussain Talat (Diamond), 7.Abdullah Shafique (Gold) 8. Sikandar Raza (Gold & Overseas), 9. Liam Dawson (Gold & Overseas), 10.Kamran Ghulam (Silver), 11.Mirza Tahir Baig (Silver),12. Harry Brook (Silver & Overseas), 13.Dilbar Hussain (Silver), 14.Ahmed Danyal (Silver) , 15.Zaman Khan (Emerging), 16.Shawaiz Irffan (Emerging)17. Jordan Cox WK (Supplementary & Overseas),18. Jalat Khan (Supplementary)19.Ahsan Bhatti (supplementary)
Players Selected from Player Development Program(PDP) by Lahore Qalandars in PSL 8
Aqib Javed is constantly working on the Player Development Program and identifying new talent. Haris Rauf has represented Pakistan internationally, and Ahmad Danyal, Zaman Khan, and Dilber Hussain have played in the Pakistan Super League. MirzaTahir Baig and Jalat Khan are the latest picks from PDP2022 in PSL 8. Tahir Baig is chosen in the Silver category and Jalat Khan in the Supplementary category.
Lahore Qalandars 3rd and 4th Supplementary Picks for PSL 2023
PCB decided to increase the size of players to 20. The six HBL Pakistan Super League franchises beefed up their squads in the replacement draft that took place over a conference call on Wednesday. The six HBL Pakistan Super League franchises beefed up their squads in the replacement draft that took place over a conference call on 25.01.2022.
The six teams added players to their squads in the third and fourth supplementary pick rounds before naming replacements for the players who were partially or fully unavailable. Each side could pick a maximum of one foreign cricketer in the two supplementary rounds.
Lahore Qalandars, who had the second pick, named Ahsan Bhatti, a left-arm spin all-rounder and product of their player development program. Lahore Qalandars reserved their pick for the 4th supplementary local player.
Replacement picks of Lahore Qalandars for PSL 2023
Rovman Powell, David Miller, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein and Tabraiz Shamsi will potentially be unavailable to their franchises from 8 March onwards due to bilateral limited-overs series between the West Indies and South Africa.
Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Jason Roy are potentially unavailable because of the England versus Bangladesh limited overs series to their franchises from 26 February to 14 March. Alex Hales will join the HBL PSL 8 from 26 February onwards. Tim David will join the tournament on 3 March. Jordan Cox will be available to Lahore Qalandars from 21 February as he is on the England Lions tour of Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga will leave the tournament on 3 March.
In the Platinum category, Lahore Qalandars picked Sam Billings for Rashid Khan. In the Silver category, Lahore Qalandars replaced Harry Brook with Shane Dadswell. In the supplementary picks, Lahore Qalandars’ Jordan Cox was replaced with Kusal Mendis.
Lahore Qalandars picked Shai Hope for PSL 2023
Kausal Mendis is unable to get NOC from Srilanka Cricket Board. That will be a big blow for Lahore Qalandras as Mendis was in form of his life in the recent SAT20 tournament. But Shai Hope is also an excellent middle-order player from West Indies. He has sound and solid technique. He can play great cover drives and master strokes.
Shai Hope left Lahore Qalandars while Jordan Cox and Sam Billings Joining for PSL 2023
Shai Hope leaving Lahore Qalandars for PSL 8 after playing three matches. Shai Hope would depart from Pakistan to join the West Indies team after he was named as the new captain of the West Indies ODI team. The wicket-keeper batter scored 47 runs in Qalandars’ victory against Gladiators on the 10th match of HBL PSL 8.
In a presser after his last game of the season, Hope said he enjoyed playing in PSL, adding that the league has very high standards. “I enjoyed my time here. It is a fantastic tournament and I had a great time at Qalandars’ camp. I hope to join them back soon,” he said.
Two young English wicket-keeper batters Jordan Cox and Sam Billings will join the Lahore Qalandars’s squad on February 23 and 25 respectively, the franchise media manager shared on Tuesday.
Wicket-keeper batter Jordan Cox was representing the England Lions against Sri Lanka A in an ODI series that concluded on Tuesday. He would join the Qalanaders squad on February 23, while Sam Billings would reach Lahore on February 25.
Lahore Qalandars Captain for PSL 8
In PSL 8, Shaheen Afridi will continue to captain Lahore Qalandars. He proved his leadership abilities during the previous season. He gave his all in every game, inspiring other players to fight in good spirits. Despite Shaheen’s injury issues, LQ fans hope and pray to see him in action.
Lahore Qalandars Coaching Staff for PSL 8
Aqib Javed is the head coach of the Lahore Qalandars. He also oversees the player development program for the Lahore Qalandars (PDP).
They hired Waqas Ahmed as their bowling coach. The batting coach is Mansoor Rana, the fielding coach is Shahzad Butt, and the team manager is Sameen Rana.
Lahore Qalandars Best Playing XI for PSL 8
Now we come to the best final playing XI after the Lahore Qalandars squad analysis for PSL 8.
1. Mirza Tahir Baig 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3.Harry Brook/ Sam Billings/ Shai Hope (Overseas), 4. Abdullah Shafique, 5.Hussain Talat 6. Sikandar Raza (Overseas),7. David Wiese (Overseas) 8. Rashid Khan/ Liam Dawson (Overseas) 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi,10. Zaman Khan 11.Haris Rauf.
Lahore Qalandars Squad Strengths for PSL 8
They are coming as the defending champions for PSL 8. The main strength of Lahore Qalandars obviously their captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and his lethal bowling which is the main difference between winning the trophy for his side. He proved his leadership qualities in his first season as a captain in PSL 7. Shaheen Shah Afridi is also a world-class bowler who single-handedly win Lahore Qalandars matches. He is lethal in opening and death overs. He is an economical and wicket-taking option always.
Fakhar Zaman is another match-winning batter for Lahore Qalandars. His class is permanent. Rashid Khan, the mystery spinner is another match-winner available for Lahore Qalandars. But he will miss 4 matches for Lahore Qalandars due to the series against UAE. Abdullah Shafique is another class player who has talent like Babar Azam.
The inclusion of Sam Billings further bolsters their squad in the replacement draft held on 25th Jan 2022.
Bowling is most lethal with the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza.
They have the best coaching staff available for them. Also, they develop players from their Lahore Qalandars Player Development Program. This is their strength also as no other team of PSL has developed such a program to train and groom local talent for their team.
Lahore Qalandars Squad Weaknesses for PSL 8
There is a lot of criticism on them for selecting Hussain Talat as their diamond category player. Also still missing a spark in batting. Still unable to pick a few best world-class T20 batters like Alex Hales, Kieron Pollard, James Vince, and David Miler at the top who can bat deep and can score the fifties and centuries for them in every match with the highest strike rates.
Also, Harry Brook will not be available for them for most of the season due to his national duties on PSL days. Because he is now playing for England across all three formats as a middle-order batsman. That will be their biggest loss. The batting unit is not so much formidable but bowling is world-class and the most dangerous out of all PSL 8 teams.
Final Conclusion on Lahore Qalandars Squad for PSL 8
Hoping that Lahore Qalandars will be in the final. Seeing they have match-winner players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fakahar Zaman, Rashid Khan, and Sikandar Raza this time. Every mentioned player has the ability to play a big part in regaining their champion crown. Fingers crossed for Lahore Qalandars for PSL 8. Hope you enjoyed the detailed article on Lahore Qalandars Squad Analysis for PSL 2023. The team is clicking at the moment.
Lahore Qalandars champion of PSL 2023
Lahore Qalandars became champion of PSL 8 by beating Multan Sultans by Just 1 run. They also earn prize money of PKR 120 million. Zaman Khan was the hero of the match by defending just 13 runs in the final over. While Shaheen Shah Afridi was the man of the match. Shaheen Shah Afridi scored 44 runs from just 15 deliveries with 5 6s and 2 4s at a strike rate of 293.33. That was the main difference that Lahore Qalandars won the PSL 8 final. Not this he also took 4 wickets by giving 51 runs in the final and took 2 crucial wickets from Kieron Pollard and Tim David. Abdullah Shafique was also the unsung hero of the match. He scored 65 runs from 40 balls. He hit 2 6s and 8 4s with a strike rate of 162.50.
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