Lahore Qalandars management hopeful of better result in PSL4

KARACHI: With addition of experienced players like AB de Villiers and Mohammad Hafeez along with exciting youngsters like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman in the squad, the management of Lahore Qalandars is hopeful of a better result this time from what they define as “the most exciting Qalandars team.”

Lahore Qalandars, which finished on bottom in each of three previous editions of Pakistan Super League, picked South African AB de Villiers along with Pakistan’s experienced Mohammad Hafeez in Platinum category before picking New Zealander Corey Anderson in the Diamond category.

Atif Rana, the CEO of Lahore Qalandars, feels that the current team has all the essence of an exciting cricketing unit.

“We have a blend of young blood and experienced players in the team,” Rana told Geo.tv

“From Fakhar Zaman to Haris Rauf with AB de Villiers and Mohammad Hafeez in middle, this team has got everything to give captain best options according to the situation.”

He termed the team as “most exciting Qalandars squad ever.”

Rana also confirmed that Hafeez will lead the side in the upcoming edition of Pakistan Super League saying that he’s a captain who can lift the team up.

“He is mature, he’s experienced and he still has the hunger to do more,” he said about the new Qalandar’s captain.

Replying to a question, the Qalandars CEO expressed his satisfaction over the selection of squad.

“We were looking for this balance for the last three years. AB and Hafeez will give us stability in middle after aggressive opening pair of Fakhar and Sohail Akhtar. The team combination is very good and we have been able to fill the gap,” he said.

“We were let down by middle order in the past, but this is the best middle order now any team can have.”

Replying to a question, Rana said that every single player of the squad will be the trump card for the team.

He also aimed that Qalandars family will try its best to bring AB de Villiers to visit Pakistan and play PSL matches. “We will try our best to convince him,” he promised.

The Qalandars CEO also spoke about rookie Haris Rauf who was picked from the player development program of Lahore Qalandars and termed him the future of Pakistan cricket.

“It was our promise to every player in PDP that whoever would perform will be part of PSL team. Haris has been with us for last one year and we have worked to develop him into a proper professional player,” he said.

“Now, it’s up to him to prove himself and make a mark. For me, he’s Pakistan’s future.”