- May 26, 2025
Alright, let’s get right to the point—when Shaheen Shah Afridi was named captain of the Lahore Qalandars, there were plenty of raised eyebrows. A 22-year-old leading a franchise in one of the most competitive leagues in the world? Risky business, right? Well, three PSL titles later, let’s just say the risk was well worth it. The left-arm pacer has now made history (again) by becoming the first ever captain to lift the PSL trophy three times and has further established himself as the most successful captain in Pakistan Super League history. If that isn’t iconic, we aren’t sure what is.
From Young Gun to Tactical Genius
Let’s rewind a little bit. When Shaheen Afridi was appointed to captain the Qalandars, he wasn’t your prototypical captain; he was raw, fiery, toe-crushing yorkers, and wasn’t exactly your cool-headed, strategic leader. That’s the reason his journey is so impressive; not only has he grown into that role, but he has also reinvented it.
Unlike the previous celebrity captains – Misbah, Sammy, Sarfaraz – who played with experience, Shaheen played with instinct and determination, making decisions with no regard for consequence. He played youth, he used his bowlers well, and he was aggressive and clever, and bold when it mattered. Once again, the Shaheen captaincy is not just about numbers – it is results based on the way he gets those results. Think back to those finals in 2022 and 2023. Those matches were as close to a match as you could get, and Shaheen was out in front. Both with the ball and mindset.
Chasing Glory: How Qalandars Kept Their Cool Under Pressure
Now, let’s discuss the final. Trying to chase 202 in a high-pressure situation is not for the faint-hearted. But Lahore Qalandars played like they had dinner reservations and did not want to be late. Opener Mohammad Naeem came out swinging, hitting six sixes in a blistering 47. With Shafique chipping in with a classy 41, Lahore was cruising at one point—but, of course, it’s a PSL final, so it had to get tense.
After the middle order failed miserably, the run rate was over 10, and it was looking bleak. Sikandar Raza, however, was not having it. Cool as a cucumber and with an ice-cool bat, he paced out the chase perfectly. Throw in a ferocious fifty from the ever-dependable Thisara Perera, and you had a finish that made the heart rate rise, and Raza finished it off appropriately with a calm boundary, and with a six off the last ball of the game with literally one ball to spare.
Breaking Records and Building a Legacy
With this third title, Shaheen isn’t just leading Lahore Qalandars, he’s leading PSL history. No other captain has even won two titles, and here is this 25-year-old with three. Legends in Misbah, Sarfaraz, and Sammy? They all have one each. The gap is not just widening, it’s massive now.
But the best part? He is not done yet.
Shaheen is changing the game with how leadership looks in modern T20 cricket. He is proving that you don’t have to be a seasoned veteran to be a great leader, but rather clarity, courage, and trust amongst the squad. The lad is still in his mid-20s, and if Lahore continues to back him (why wouldn’t they?), we may be looking at the first true PSL dynasty, courtesy of Captain Afridi.
Shaheen Afridi’s evolution as a captain has become one of the best underdog journeys in franchise cricket history; from a surprising selection to a three-time PSL champion, he has redefined the role of a captain in the PSL, and after a recent fit-out in PSL 10, it’s not just a trophy, it’s a statement.
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