[PICTURES] Lahore Qalandars (180/5) win PSL 7 after defeating Multan Sultans (138) by 52 runs

[James]

CricBuzz

Shaheen Afridi, Lahore Qalandars skipper:
It's a great achievement. We have been waiting for 6 years and I want to thank the Lahore crowd. They have come out in numbers and supported us throughout. A lot of people supported me, Hafeez guided me during lot of pressure moments so thanks to all who supported me. The fight we showed as a team throughout the tournament is really fantastic and we had that attitude to fight till the last ball.

Player of the Tournament and skipper of Multan Sultans, Mohammad Rizwan:
The two teams in the finals are totally deserving of the title. There's always pressure in the final and the team that handles the pressure well wins the game. The way Hafeez handled the pressure was the turning point. They took the game deep and soaked up the pressure much better than us. It's a great learning opportunity for a lot of them. We are humans and mistakes do happen, so it's overall a learning curve for all of us as a team.

 

[Afzal_K]

LAHORE LAHORE Yaayyy

 

[shamaan]

How did Shadab get bowler of the tournament !

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Lahore Qalandar Champions!!!

 

[QalandarFan]

After 7 years... FINALLY LFG QALANDARS!!!

 

[Coolcapri]

Gr8 win by LQ, They deserve it, Also the way way they came bank in Final & qualifier after losing early wickets was amazing.

I think PSL is the only T20 tournament in the world (with minimum 6 teams) that all team won the championship and that to in 7 year only.

Gr8 for Brand PSL. Only missing thing is the match should be more spread out across Pakistan with venues like Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta.

 

[MenInG]

Full highlights

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/c3uwr4" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

This is the kind of stuff Qalandar do after every match

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50.555%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/18d5dc" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[DHONI183]

PSL 7 | Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars | Final | 27 Feb | Lahore | Pre-Match Thread

The team batting first is winning it, I reckon. Anything above 160 will be challenging to chase.

This! Well done, Lahore!

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Girte hain Sheh'sawaar hi maidaane Jang me!<a href="https://twitter.com/MultanSultans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MultanSultans</a> played like champions & champs get up after being knocked out. Yaqeen rakhna hai. Thanks to all the fans, staff, players, coaches & owner.<br><br>Really happy for LQ. Or <a href="https://twitter.com/iShaheenAfridi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iShaheenAfridi</a> ki jeet, meri jeet hai. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL7?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL7</a> <a href="https://t.co/KKDaBxR9p3">pic.twitter.com/KKDaBxR9p3</a></p>— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) <a href="https://twitter.com/iMRizwanPak/status/1498016275162963968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[DHONI183]

Lahore Qalandars (180/5) win PSL 7 after defeating Multan Sultans (138) by 52 runs

The old, senior, fellow Hafeez came good when it mattered the most. He must´ve been fired up by all the bashing that he got on social media after the first Qualifier. His name was trending on Twitter that night, from what I remember, and it´s most logical to think that he must´ve been aware of it.

The one aspect where Lahore held the edge over Multan was that they were tested in almost every match and every period of five overs. There was hardly a game where it didn´t seem like that things had slipped away from Lahore, and it seemed exactly the case even yesterday when they lost the three initial wickets, and they were tested to the extremes even in the Qualifier, of course. They kept making comebacks throughout the tournament, and the continuous practice at pulling back matches saw them through in the end. Now, this is of course not a criticism of Multan. This is not something that you can change as a team or is something that lies in your hands. The most that you can do is to perform well and flawlessly, and they did that.

Congratulations, Lahore Qalandars! Although we´re Multan supporters, but somehow the loss didn´t hurt. Lahore played with a lot of fight, spirit, will, and fire, and seeing them win in front of their own home crowd just looked better and more romantic. It had to happen. I´m delighted for them. They played as a unit, like an army, and seemed far more hungry than any other team. In particular, I like the idea of Shaheen leading a team. Now, he may not be a tactical genius, but he does seem like a leader of men, somehow who knows how to get his team together and fighting. I wonder whether he can be tried as captain of Pakistan as well..... ?

 

[DHONI183]

Lahore Qalandars (180/5) win PSL 7 after defeating Multan Sultans (138) by 52 runs

It was another great edition of the PSL, full of entertainment, thrill, excitement, and fun, taking my mind off from my daily life struggles. I express my gratitude to the PCB and all the other guys involved behind the scene in making it happen. What I like the most about it now is that all the teams have won a trophy within just a few years. So, technically, we don´t have minnows in the PSL, and it´s great and good for the game. Here´s hoping that Karachi and Quetta too would lift their game for the coming seasons so that we can have an even more tight competition for the prize.

 

[sweep_shot]

Well done, Lahore. Well-deserved.

This was a very entertaining PSL.

 

[MenInG]

Trophy visit to Landi Kotal Shaheen Shah Afridi’s home. Shaheen's family & neighbors welcome the trophy & Lahore Qalandars Management

 

[MenInG]

Lahore Qalandars have demanded a new stadium in Lahore with a capacity of 80,000 people.

The first person to raise this demand was the Chief Executive of Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana. He expressed his opinion that the current capacity of Gaddafi Stadium does not do justice to the fans.



"Gaddafi Stadium was not big enough for HBL PSL 7. In the final match, almost the same number of spectators that were present inside the stadium were also present outside. Looking at the passion and interest of the fans having a new bigger stadium is essential," he said.

Qalandars coach Aqib Javed also expressed his wish to have a bigger stadium so that more wishful spectators can be accommodated.

"Lahore Qalandars is working on this matter, and further progress will be seen in the days to come. Lahore is a highly populated city of 20 million people, having a stadium with a capacity of 27,000 people does not do justice," added the former pacer.

"The fan base of Lahore is not limited to only Lahore it is spread out throughout Pakistan," said Aqib.

Aqib also commented on the pitch conditions during the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia.

"The times have changed now and people have no interest to watch a match for five days without a result," he said. "The purpose of the home series is to take advantage of home conditions, captain Babar Azam should come in the ground with an aggressive mindset against the Aussies."

He further added: "They should emphasize making such pitches that favor Pakistan, We already have the best performing spinners in these conditions, compared to Australia which only has one main spinner, Nathan Lyon, as the rest are inexperienced or part-timers."

With Rawalpindi Test match concluded, it remains to be seen how PCB deals with the criticism and how the Karachi and Lahore pitches will be curated.

CrickPakistan

 

[Rana]

Lahore Qalandars have demanded a new stadium in Lahore with a capacity of 80,000 people.

The first person to raise this demand was the Chief Executive of Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana. He expressed his opinion that the current capacity of Gaddafi Stadium does not do justice to the fans.



"Gaddafi Stadium was not big enough for HBL PSL 7. In the final match, almost the same number of spectators that were present inside the stadium were also present outside. Looking at the passion and interest of the fans having a new bigger stadium is essential," he said.

Qalandars coach Aqib Javed also expressed his wish to have a bigger stadium so that more wishful spectators can be accommodated.

"Lahore Qalandars is working on this matter, and further progress will be seen in the days to come. Lahore is a highly populated city of 20 million people, having a stadium with a capacity of 27,000 people does not do justice," added the former pacer.

"The fan base of Lahore is not limited to only Lahore it is spread out throughout Pakistan," said Aqib.

Aqib also commented on the pitch conditions during the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia.

"The times have changed now and people have no interest to watch a match for five days without a result," he said. "The purpose of the home series is to take advantage of home conditions, captain Babar Azam should come in the ground with an aggressive mindset against the Aussies."

He further added: "They should emphasize making such pitches that favor Pakistan, We already have the best performing spinners in these conditions, compared to Australia which only has one main spinner, Nathan Lyon, as the rest are inexperienced or part-timers."

With Rawalpindi Test match concluded, it remains to be seen how PCB deals with the criticism and how the Karachi and Lahore pitches will be curated.

CrickPakistan

Rana sab

The man with a vision to improve Pakistan cricket!

 

[MenInG]

Lahore Qalandars take the PSL Trophy to Zaman Khan's home town of Chakswari in Mirpur

 

[Saj]

Nice touch from LQ to take the trophy to the towns and villages of some of their players.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Lahore Qalandars have demanded a new stadium in Lahore with a capacity of 80,000 people.

The first person to raise this demand was the Chief Executive of Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana. He expressed his opinion that the current capacity of Gaddafi Stadium does not do justice to the fans.



"Gaddafi Stadium was not big enough for HBL PSL 7. In the final match, almost the same number of spectators that were present inside the stadium were also present outside. Looking at the passion and interest of the fans having a new bigger stadium is essential," he said.

Qalandars coach Aqib Javed also expressed his wish to have a bigger stadium so that more wishful spectators can be accommodated.

"Lahore Qalandars is working on this matter, and further progress will be seen in the days to come. Lahore is a highly populated city of 20 million people, having a stadium with a capacity of 27,000 people does not do justice," added the former pacer.

"The fan base of Lahore is not limited to only Lahore it is spread out throughout Pakistan," said Aqib.

Aqib also commented on the pitch conditions during the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia.

"The times have changed now and people have no interest to watch a match for five days without a result," he said. "The purpose of the home series is to take advantage of home conditions, captain Babar Azam should come in the ground with an aggressive mindset against the Aussies."

He further added: "They should emphasize making such pitches that favor Pakistan, We already have the best performing spinners in these conditions, compared to Australia which only has one main spinner, Nathan Lyon, as the rest are inexperienced or part-timers."

With Rawalpindi Test match concluded, it remains to be seen how PCB deals with the criticism and how the Karachi and Lahore pitches will be curated.

CrickPakistan

Brilliant Idea

 

[MenInG]

Lahore Qalandars take the PSL Trophy to the Wagah border...

 

[MenInG]

Lahore Qalandars Chief Operating Officer Sameen Rana shared about their team culture and their approach toward team building. He feels the ethos of the franchise helped them finally lift the coveted Pakistan Super League (PSL) trophy this year.

"You have to do relation-building with players so they play to the best of their ability. My aim has always been to give respect to players and when we lose, often I had been under criticism that I don't manage players properly and I don't give them a tough time because there is a concept that if you have paid someone, we have the right to criticize them fiercely but my training tells me that if someone scored 100 and the other scored zero, that doesn't make them a good or a bad human being," Qalandars COO Sameen Rana told Cricket Den.

Sameen said it is ingrained in the DNA of the franchise to value players not just because of their performances but as integral members of the family. He said it all boils down to motivating players and getting the highest commitment from them.

The Qalandars COO believes the skill level is not much under the control of the franchise but fostering a conducive environment for the players is what can yield better results.

"You make relation with a player not with their performances but because it's a competitive world, there is pressure from fans, stakeholders so normally we offload our burdens on our players, we shout on them, we speak loudly with them but we hire them as professionals and they know their thing that is why they are part of the team. You can't teach them skills, you can just increase their commitment and motivate them.

"In this realm, we try to build a conducive environment and you don't always find players who buy into this philosophy. We don't make someone a hero when they perform and we don't snub them when they are unable to perform. We always give respect to players no matter what and I think that is the reason why we have good relations with players like Rashid Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, and Tim David and we keep in touch with them throughout the year," Rana added.

Rashid Khan had a remarkable season with Lahore Qalandars and enjoyed the environment. Sameen revealed he was approached by other franchisees who gave him lucrative offers but he chose to stay with Qalandars.

"Rashid Khan is a family member and with him, we don't have just a cricketing relationship. Rashid was approached by some other teams who used Pathan and Afghanistan references and tried everything to get him out of Lahore Qalandars. Our main players have been approached by other teams and offered a lot but I think this is not very professional and I advise other teams to focus on their team-building rather than trying to break other teams.

"We all give the same amount of money but it's just the respect and honour that we always maintain. When we drafted Rashid Khan, he was our third pick so you can't say it was your first pick and you had an advantage. Two teams didn't pick him so we got the opportunity. We are lucky to have a player like Rashid Khan on our side and we will retain him next season," he added.

Sameen said he was worried for Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf who have a special bond with the franchise and had they lost the final this season, it would have been hard for him to manage them. Qalandar's COO said he has seen the pacers grow and develop into world-class bowlers.

"Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi are like my sons. Their journey started in front of me. When both these players came to PSL, they were like 16-year-olds, and I have seen them growing. They remain in touch with me throughout the year and we have a good relationship. When Shaheen says we are a family, we are actually like a family. I was thinking how would I console Shaheen and Haris if we lose the final and they would have been totally heartbroken," said Sameen Rana.


https://cricwick.net/news/13251/Ras...o-stay-with-us-says-Qalandars-COO-Sameen-Rana

 

[MenInG]

[Report] Bengal and Lahore Qalandars to take part in T20 series in Namibia

As per a media report, an Indian team is set to go up against a Pakistan team come September, away in Namibia. Around the time the Asia Cup takes place - most likely in the UAE - Cricket Namibia will host the four-team Global T20 Namibia series, with Bengal [from India], a representative Lahore Qalandars side [from Pakistan], and a South African domestic side.

 

[MenInG]

Predictions?

 

[MenInG]

The domestic teams of India and Pakistan are set to face off each other after a gap of eight years. The Bengal team of India and Lahore Qalandars of Pakistan will be the two sides that will feature in a four-team Global T20 Namibia series in September. While the host nation will be the third team, a South African side, that is yet to be named, will be the fourth.

Given any bilateral series between India and Pakistan has not been played since January 2013 due to the increased political tensions between the two nations, fans of the two sides get an opportunity to enjoy the cricket rivalry only during ICC events. Amidst all that, the face-off between Bengal and Lahore Qalandars will give the fans another opportunity to enjoy some promising entertainment.

It is worth noting that Bengal have already declared their squad for the upcoming series in Namibia. Abhimanyu Easwaran will be leading the side that also includes the likes of Shahbaz Ahmed and Ishan Porel.

"The broadcasters for the tournament came before our president (Avishek Dalmiya) and invited us. We took the opportunity to play six-seven games before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, because we can get to play against a World Cup team," Debabrata Das, Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary, said as quoted by a media source.

"The ambition is that there are several young players who are playing in local cricket in Bengal and performing fantastically with respect to T20s. So we are sending mostly those young guys so that we can make our team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

"The team we are sending abroad, this is a new team. We want to see how they play, how they tackle this tournament."

Here is the Bengal squad for Global T20 Namibia series:

Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Abhishek Das, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Ranjot Singh Khaira, Shreyansh Ghosh, Karan Lal, Writtick Chatterjee, Shreyan Chakraborty, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abhishek Porel (wicketkeeper), Suprodip Debnath (wicketkeeper), Ishan Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Soumyyadip Mondal, Ravi Kumar. Standby: Ankur Paul, Pradipta Parmanik, Debopratim Haldar, Siddharth Singh.

 

[MenInG]

The domestic teams of India and Pakistan are set to face off each other after a gap of eight years. The Bengal team of India and Lahore Qalandars of Pakistan will be the two sides that will feature in a four-team Global T20 Namibia series in September. While the host nation will be the third team, a South African side, that is yet to be named, will be the fourth.

Given any bilateral series between India and Pakistan has not been played since January 2013 due to the increased political tensions between the two nations, fans of the two sides get an opportunity to enjoy the cricket rivalry only during ICC events. Amidst all that, the face-off between Bengal and Lahore Qalandars will give the fans another opportunity to enjoy some promising entertainment.

It is worth noting that Bengal have already declared their squad for the upcoming series in Namibia. Abhimanyu Easwaran will be leading the side that also includes the likes of Shahbaz Ahmed and Ishan Porel.

"The broadcasters for the tournament came before our president (Avishek Dalmiya) and invited us. We took the opportunity to play six-seven games before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, because we can get to play against a World Cup team," Debabrata Das, Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary, said as quoted by a media source.

"The ambition is that there are several young players who are playing in local cricket in Bengal and performing fantastically with respect to T20s. So we are sending mostly those young guys so that we can make our team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

"The team we are sending abroad, this is a new team. We want to see how they play, how they tackle this tournament."

Here is the Bengal squad for Global T20 Namibia series:

Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Abhishek Das, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Ranjot Singh Khaira, Shreyansh Ghosh, Karan Lal, Writtick Chatterjee, Shreyan Chakraborty, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abhishek Porel (wicketkeeper), Suprodip Debnath (wicketkeeper), Ishan Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Soumyyadip Mondal, Ravi Kumar. Standby: Ankur Paul, Pradipta Parmanik, Debopratim Haldar, Siddharth Singh.

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL)'s reigning champions Lahore Qalandars will send their development squad to Namibia to participate in three-teams tournament.

With India's Bengal team having withdrawn from the tournament, Qalandars will now compete against Namibia's Eagles and South Africa's Lions in the tournament.

Qalandars' management have announced their squad for the tournament which will played from September 1 to 5 in Namibia.

Later on, Qalandars will also play two one-day matches against Namibia's Eagles on September 7 and 9.

SQUADS

LAHORE QALANDARS: Hamza Nazar (Captain), Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti, Aitizaz Habib Khan, Dilbar Hussain, Jalat Khan, Jehanzeb Naveed (Wicket-keeper), Mamoon Ur Riaz, Mansoor Saleem (Wicket-keeper), Mehboob Ur Rahman Usmani, Mirza Tahir Baig, Muhammad Naeem, Shane Dadswell, Sudais Khan, Usama Mir, Usman Khalid

RICHELIEU EAGLES: Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Stephen Baard, Karl Birkenstock, Shaun Fouche, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green (Wicket-keeper), Divan La Cock, Nicol Loftie Eaton, Lohan Louwrens (Wicket-keeper), Tangeni Lungameni, Mauritius Ngupita, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Michael van Lingen, David Wiese, Craig Williams, Pikkie Ya France