Lahore Qalandars: PSL's Most Beloved Franchise and the City of Culture

Lahore Qalandars

Lahore Qalandars are one of the six founding franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), representing Lahore — Pakistan's second-largest city and its cultural capital. Founded in 2015, the franchise plays in a distinctive green-and-blue uniform and has become one of the PSL's most popular teams globally, with a particularly large following among the Pakistani diaspora worldwide.

The Long Road to Glory

Lahore Qalandars were the PSL's nearly team for years — they reached the final in 2020 and 2021 but lost both. They finally won their first PSL title in 2022, ending what had become a famous duck — six editions of the tournament without a title. The 2022 win was celebrated massively in Lahore. They followed up by winning again in 2023, making them back-to-back champions.

Shaheen Shah Afridi — The Qalandars' Star

Shaheen Shah Afridi — Pakistan's left-arm fast bowler and ICC rankings leader — is the most prominent player associated with Lahore Qalandars. Shaheen's partnership with the franchise helped catapult him to international fame. Other notable Qalandars players have included Fakhar Zaman, David Wiese, and various international stars recruited via the PSL draft and marquee signings.

Lahore as a Cricket City

Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is one of Pakistan's most iconic cricket grounds and was the venue for Pakistan's first home Test matches after the 2009 attack-related hiatus ended. The return of international cricket to Lahore was an emotional moment for Pakistani cricket, and Lahore Qalandars have been central to the story of cricket's revival in the city.