Shoaib Akhtar keen to buy Lahore Qalandars franchise in near future

There is a certain trend with league cricket across the world. If a team manages to enter the finals in the previous edition, the same is expected of the team, the next year too, to enter the finals or even better win it. Ask Mumbai Indians, Sydney Sixers, and Trinbago Knight Riders who have won back-to-back titles while playing franchise cricket in India, Australia, and West Indies.

But the same cannot be said of the Lahore Qalandars team who, have failed to enter the playoffs after finishing as runners-up in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) last year. In this edition of the tournament, the Qalandars lost four matches in a row and are out of the high-octane tournament which is being held in the UAE.

Fans of the franchise, are naturally disappointed due to the team’s performance. They expected a better performance than this but it turned out a rather disappointing affair.

Cricketer-turned-commentator Shoaib Akhtar though is ready to change the fortunes of the team. He told he is ready to buy the team but the owners of the Qalandars are not ready to sell yet.

“I told Rana brothers to sell me your team I’ll rename it as Lahore express and change the management. These owners and management aren’t serious about cricket, they are wasting the Lahore brand,” said Akhtar, as reported by Crickwick.

Lahore Qalandars a good side with reputed names in the squad

There is no lack of quality players or match-winners within the squad, as players such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, and Fakhar Zaman are in the Qalandars squad. But yet the team failed to enter the playoffs. Led by Sohail Akhtar, there was indeed a good mix of experienced players and youth in the team.

Rather than getting the best out of his players, Akhtar came under the scanner when he took a waste of a DRS review against Quetta Gladiators, where there was clear evidence of the bat touching the ball, till the skipper decided to take the DRS howler. Not only that, vice-captain Shaheen Shah Afridi too got into an argument with his former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, which didn’t impress the fans and critics alike.

The team would hopefully come out strong the next year, put in good performances which is expected from the franchise.