PSL 2025: Who is Lahore Qalandards’ captain?

Lahore Qalandars (LQ) is the second-most successful team in PSL history, with two titles to their name. Since 2020, they have shown significant improvement, but the last season was a disaster for their fans.

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After finishing as runners-up in 2020, LQ won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, becoming the only team to achieve this feat. Both victories came under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, their title defense in 2024 was disappointing, as they finished last with just one win and eight losses in 10 games.

This season, Shaheen will aim for redemption, hoping to lead his team back to the top. As captain, he has won 18 out of 34 matches, losing 15. Since 2018, he has been a key player for LQ, taking 103 wickets in 71 innings at an economy of 8.00, including two five-wicket hauls and three four-wicket hauls.

Despite his consistency as a bowler, the team struggled last season. His recent poor form in the Champions Trophy was one of the reasons behind Pakistan’s early exit. Now, PSL 2025 gives him the perfect platform to regain his form as both a bowler and a captain.

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"When we won the title in 2022, I went to meet Imran bhai” - Shaheen Shah Afridi

Before the 2024 season, Shaheen shared how former Pakistan great Imran Khan influenced his captaincy journey. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he revealed:

"I never even had an interest in captaincy. But then in 2021, I was sitting in the PM office with Sameen bhai [Lahore Qalandars owner] and Aqib Javed, and Imran Khan suggested that I be appointed captain. Obviously, you can never say no to Imran bhai. After that, I became captain of Lahore. I was vice-captain, but when Imran bhai said I should be captain, that's when the change happened."

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"When we won the title in 2022, I went to meet Imran bhai and told him 'at least we've now won one title!' And I thanked him at the time for showing faith in me. That's when my captaincy started, until then I had no interest.” he further added.

LQ will begin their campaign on 11 April at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium against defending champions Islamabad United (IU).

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