Lahore Qalandars entered PSL 10 as two-time defending champions, but their campaign has been derailed by a mix of poor performances and—most frustratingly—questionable captaincy from Shaheen Afridi. While Shaheen remains one of Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers 
, his leadership decisions this season are baffling, stubborn, and at times outright detrimental to the team’s success.
1. Bizarre Batting Order: Rishad Hossain Over Sikander Raza?
One of the most inexplicable decisions was sending Rishad Hossain ahead of Sikander Raza in last match against Multan Sultans on a batting track. Raza, a seasoned T20 campaigner with a proven ability to accelerate in the middle overs, was held back while Rishad—primarily a bowler with limited batting credentials—was sent in earlier.- Why was this wrong?
- Raza has a strike rate of 140+ in T20s and is known for rebuilding or attacking as needed.
- Rishad averages under 15 with the bat in T20s—hardly the man you want in a high-pressure situation.
- The move disrupted momentum and cost Lahore the match perhaps as Raza ended up scoring a fast paced half-century and remained not out. But too little too late.
2. Underutilizing Sikander Raza’s Bowling
Raza is a more-than-handy off-spinner, yet Shaheen bizarrely refused to bowl his full quota of overs in multiple games. Instead, he persisted with struggling bowlers, allowing opposition batters to settle. Haris was taken to the cleaners by Yasir and Rizwan, and yet Shaheen went to him again.- Examples of mismanagement:
- In one game, Raza bowled just 1 or 2 overs despite being economical, while part-timers or out-of-form bowlers leaked runs.
- In last match, he wasn’t even introduced until the 15th over, by which time Multan were dictating the game properly.
3. Holding Back Raza Until It Was Too Late
Shaheen’s tendency to overthink and delay Raza’s introduction was another recurring issue. Multiple times, Lahore’s other bowlers were getting hammered, yet Raza was held back until the death overs—when the damage was already done.- Why does this matter?
- Raza is best used in the middle overs (7-15), where he can break partnerships.
- Waiting until the 15th over to bowl him meant Lahore missed the chance to control the game.
4. Poor Field Placements Ignoring Opposition Strengths
Shaheen’s field setups were often reactive rather than proactive. He failed to adjust to batters’ strengths, allowing easy boundary options.- Common mistakes:
- No protection for slog sweeps against spinners.
- Deep point/square leg left open for ramp shots when pacers were bowling.
- No mid-off/mid-on up when batters were driving freely.
Conclusion: Stubbornness Over Strategy
Shaheen’s captaincy in PSL 10 is defined by rigid thinking, poor resource management, and a refusal to adapt. While he is an Ok bowler, his leadership cost Lahore Qalandars dearly.What should change?
✔ Trust proven players (like Raza) instead of overcomplicating tactics.
✔ Be proactive with bowling changes, not reactive.
✔ Study opposition batters and set fields accordingly.
If Shaheen wants to grow as a captain, he must learn from these mistakes—otherwise, Lahore’s struggles will continue and after this no one can tell me Pak was wrong to remove him from Captaincy post.
What do you think? Were Shaheen’s decisions the main reason for Lahore’s downfall, or were there other factors? Let’s discuss in the comments!
#PSL10 #LahoreQalandars #ShaheenAfridi.PS: Be respectful, we may disagree but let's be civil.
