By Zainab Shafiq 
The Lahore Qalandars, the defending champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have found themselves in a precarious position in the ongoing ninth season. After six consecutive defeats, they are languishing at the bottom of the points table, their title defense hanging by a thread. Several factors have contributed to their struggles, raising questions about their game plan and team selection.
Let’s look deeper into four key reasons behind Lahore Qalandars’ poor performance:
Main Reasons Behind Lahore Qalandars’ Poor Performance
The Absence of Rashid Khan
The biggest blow to the Qalandars’ bowling attack came before the season even began. The withdrawal of Afghan spinner Rashid Khan due to injury left a significant void in their line-up. Khan was the team’s third-highest wicket taker in the previous season, claiming 20 wickets in just 11 innings. His ability to take crucial wickets and control the run flow was unmatched, and his absence has exposed the weaknesses in the Qalandars’ bowling depth.
Underutilizing Sikandar Raza
While Shaheen Afridi, the team captain, expressed his intention to utilize Sikandar Raza as Khan’s replacement, fans haven’t seen this plan materialize. Raza, a seasoned all-rounder known for his effective spin bowling, has primarily been used as a lower-order batsman. He has only bowled sporadically, with limited opportunities to showcase his bowling prowess. This underutilization of a proven talent has raised eyebrows and left fans questioning the team’s strategic decisions.
Overall Bowling Struggles
Although Shaheen Afridi and Zaman Khan are the Qalandars’ leading wicket-takers this season, their bowling economy and average have been far from impressive. While they have managed to pick up wickets, they have also conceded a significant number of runs. This inconsistency has put immense pressure on the team’s fielding and batting departments to compensate for the leaked runs.
Batting Woes
Silence The Qalandars’ batting woes have been equally worrisome. Apart from Sahibzada Farhan and Rassie van der Dussen, none of the other batsmen have been able to consistently contribute significant scores. This over-reliance on two players creates a fragile batting order, where the loss of early wickets can quickly derail their innings. The likes of Fakhar Zaman, Shai Hope, and Abdullah Shafique have all failed to live up to expectations, leaving the team’s batting vulnerable and unpredictable.
With a mountain to climb, the Qalandars face a near-impossible task of reaching the playoffs. However, they still have four matches remaining, and a miraculous turnaround is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. While their title defense seems unlikely at this point, the Qalandars can still aim to end the season on a positive note by showcasing improved performances in their remaining matches.
Also, see:
PSL 2024 playoffs: What Lahore Qalandars can do to qualify?