The Lahore Qalandars are gearing up to defend their HBL Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL) title, which they claimed in spectacular fashion in the previous edition under the leadership of Shaheen Afridi. The team’s journey has been a rollercoaster ride for their fans, having failed to qualify for the playoffs in the first four seasons before finishing as runner-up in 2020 and finally becoming champions in 2022.
In a recent interview with PCB Digital, head coach Aqib Javed delved into the team’s transformation and shared his thoughts on their chances in the upcoming edition. Javed spoke of the challenges he faced when he first joined the franchise in the second edition, as other teams had already picked the more skilled players in the domestic circuit. This prompted him to initiate the Players Development Programme, which has proven to be the team’s strength.
Javed credited Sohail Akhtar, who was appointed as captain in the HBL PSL 5, for leading the team to the final, despite initial backlash. He also highlighted the importance of developing a core group within the team, citing the examples of Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and the future stars Kamran Ghulam, Abdullah Shafique, and Zaman Khan.
According to Javed, the HBL PSL has played a crucial role in the progression of several players, including Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Babar Azam, and Shadab Khan. He sees the competition as the ideal platform for players to showcase their abilities and handle crowd pressure, as it provides an experience akin to international cricket.
Javed also touched upon the famous Lahore-Karachi rivalry, comparing it to the Pakistan-India rivalry. However, he believes that a new rivalry might emerge this season between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi, with Babar Azam moving to the latter team as captain.
Also, see:
All You Need to Know About PSL 8 Opening Ceremony
