Lahore Qalandars enter PSL 2026 as the defending champions and one of the most successful franchises in the tournament. The three-time title winners (2022, 2023, 2025) have built a formidable squad under captain Shaheen Shah Afridi. The franchise retained core players like Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Abdullah Shafique, and Sikandar Raza for the upcoming season.
For PSL 11, Lahore Qalandars added valuable overseas talent to strengthen their roster. Players like Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Rishad Hossain, and Daryl Mitchell join the squad. These additions bring depth in batting firepower and bowling variety.
Lahore Qalandars combine experienced match-winners with exciting young talent for PSL 2026. This piece explores their complete squad, standout players, historical records, and season expectations.
Who Owns Lahore Qalandars?
The Rana brothers own the Lahore Qalandars. Fawad Rana serves as the Chairman, Atif Rana as CEO, and Sameen Rana as COO. Kausar Rana Resources Private Limited purchased the franchise in December 2015 for US$25.1 million over a ten-year period.
In November 2025, the franchise renewed its rights with the PCB for another 10-year period (2026-2035). The annual franchise fee now stands at Rs. 670 million. This makes Lahore Qalandars the most expensive franchise in PSL history. The renewal followed an independent valuation by Ernst & Young, which recognized them as the league’s most valuable team.
The owners invested heavily in talent development. They launched the Player Development Program (PDP) in 2016, which identified players such as Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, and Muhammad Naeem. Their commitment to grassroots cricket sets Lahore Qalandars apart from other franchises.
Complete Lahore Qalandars Roster for PSL 2026
The full squad breaks down as follows:
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Batting Unit | Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Naeem, Daryl Mitchell, Mirza Tahir Baig |
| Wicket-Keepers | Kusal Perera, Sam Billings |
| All-rounders | Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Tom Curran, Asif Afridi |
| Bowling Attack | Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, Rishad Hossain, Rashad Hussain, Ahmed Daniyal |
Players to Watch for LQ in PSL 2026
Several players hold the key to Lahore Qalandars’ success this season:
Shaheen Shah Afridi captains the side and leads the pace attack. His left-arm fast bowling troubles batters with pace and swing. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in PSL 2025 and led his team to a third title.
Fakhar Zaman opens the batting and provides aggressive starts. The left-hander ranks as the franchise’s all-time leading run-scorer with over 2,600 runs. He won the Hanif Mohammad Cap twice for the most runs in a season.
Haris Rauf spearheads the pace attack alongside Shaheen. The express fast bowler emerged from the Player Development Program and now represents Pakistan internationally. His death bowling remains crucial for the team.
Sikandar Raza plays as a match-winning all-rounder. The Zimbabwean contributed heavily in the PSL 2025 final with both bat and ball. He adds experience and clutch performances in pressure situations.
Kusal Perera bats as a destructive wicket-keeper batsman. The Sri Lankan played a match-winning knock of 62 not out in the PSL 2025 final. His ability to accelerate in the middle overs strengthens the batting lineup.
Lahore Qalandars Historical Performance (2016-2025)
Lahore Qalandars joined PSL in the inaugural 2016 season. The franchise struggled in the early years and finished in the bottom five five times. However, their fortunes changed dramatically from 2020 onwards. They reached the playoffs for the first time in 2020 and won their maiden title in 2022.
Season-by-Season Standings
| Season | Finish | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1st | Won Final vs Quetta Gladiators |
| 2024 | 6th | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | 1st | Won Final vs Multan Sultans |
| 2022 | 1st | Won Final vs Multan Sultans |
| 2021 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 2020 | 2nd | Lost Final vs Karachi Kings |
| 2019 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 2018 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | 5th | Did not qualify |
Leading Run Scorers in LQ History
| Batter | Years | Games | Innings | Total Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 2017-2025 | 88 | 87 | 2,697 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 2019-2022 | 36 | 36 | 925 |
| Sohail Akhtar | 2018-2022 | 37 | 36 | 808 |
| Abdullah Shafique | 2022-2025 | 44 | 44 | 762 |
| David Wiese | 2019-2024 | 48 | 43 | 576 |
Leading Wicket Takers in LQ History
| Bowler | Years | Games | Innings | Total Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 2018-2025 | 70 | 70 | 105 |
| Haris Rauf | 2018-2025 | 62 | 62 | 82 |
| Rashid Khan | 2021-2023 | 29 | 29 | 44 |
| David Wiese | 2019-2024 | 48 | 47 | 42 |
| Zaman Khan | 2022-2025 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
Best Individual Batting Performances
| Batter | Runs | Opponent | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 116 | Karachi Kings | 30 Jan 2022 | Karachi |
| Fakhar Zaman | 115 | Islamabad United | 9 Mar 2023 | Lahore |
| AB de Villiers | 93* | Karachi Kings | 17 Feb 2019 | Dubai |
| Umar Akmal | 93* | Quetta Gladiators | 9 Feb 2016 | Dubai |
| Fakhar Zaman | 94 | Multan Sultans | 26 Feb 2018 | Dubai |
Best Individual Bowling Performances
| Bowler | Analysis | Opponent | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 5/4 | Multan Sultans | 24 Feb 2018 | Sharjah |
| Shaheen Afridi | 5/20 | Peshawar Zalmi | 14 Feb 2022 | Lahore |
| Rashid Khan | 4/15 | Multan Sultans | 4 Mar 2023 | Lahore |
| Shaheen Afridi | 4/17 | Multan Sultans | 18 Mar 2023 | Lahore |
| Haris Rauf | 4/22 | Islamabad United | 27 Feb 2023 | Lahore |
Highest Team Scores
| Runs | Opponent | When | Where | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 224/3 | Islamabad United | 27 Feb 2023 | Lahore | Won |
| 219/6 | Quetta Gladiators | 13 Apr 2025 | Lahore | Won |
| 209/5 | Multan Sultans | 27 Feb 2022 | Lahore | Lost |
| 206/4 | Multan Sultans | 18 Mar 2023 | Lahore | Won |
| 202/5 | Quetta Gladiators | 25 May 2025 | Lahore | Won |
Lowest Team Scores
| Runs | Opponent | When | Where | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Peshawar Zalmi | 12 Feb 2017 | Dubai | Lost |
| 76 | Multan Sultans | 6 Mar 2023 | Lahore | Lost |
| 78 | Peshawar Zalmi | 17 Feb 2019 | Dubai | Lost |
| 89 | Multan Sultans | 16 Jun 2021 | Abu Dhabi | Lost |
| 100 | Peshawar Zalmi | 4 Mar 2018 | Sharjah | Lost |
LQ’s PSL Story – From Bottom Dwellers to Champions
Lahore Qalandars joined the PSL in 2016 and became known for their passionate fan base despite early struggles. The franchise finished at the bottom of the table in each of the first four seasons. Their players won individual awards but team success remained elusive.
The turning point came in 2020 when they reached the playoffs for the first time. They advanced all the way to the final but lost to Karachi Kings. This campaign showed their potential and built a foundation for future success.
In 2022, everything clicked. Under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi, they won their maiden PSL title by defeating Multan Sultans by 42 runs. Fakhar Zaman topped the run charts while the bowling attack dominated throughout the tournament.
The 2023 season saw them create history by defending the title. They beat Multan Sultans by just one run in the final. Shaheen Afridi delivered an all-round performance with 44 not out and four wickets. Lahore became the first PSL team to win back-to-back titles.
PSL 2024 brought a reality check. They won only one match and finished last. The absence of Rashid Khan and inconsistent performances hurt their campaign. However, they bounced back strongly in 2025.
In PSL 2025, Lahore Qalandars claimed their third title by defeating Quetta Gladiators by six wickets in the final. Kusal Perera and Sikandar Raza starred in a record chase of 202 runs at Gaddafi Stadium. This victory tied them with Islamabad United as the most successful PSL franchise.
Lahore Qalandars head into PSL 2026 with renewed confidence. Their squad features quality players across all departments. Under Shaheen Afridi’s leadership, they aim to add a fourth title and establish themselves as the undisputed PSL dynasty.