PSL 2022: Shaheen Afridi named Lahore Qalandars’ captain ahead of new season

In what can be called a major announcement, Shaheen Afridi has been named the captain of Lahore Qalandars ahead of the 2022 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The left-arm speedster replaces Sohail Akhtar, who led the franchise in the previous edition of the competition. Reports of Shaheen getting the charge of Qalandars were doing rounds since a while. However, Atif Rana, CEO of the franchise, confirmed the developments on Monday (December 20) in a press conference.

One of the finest pacers going around, Shaheen has been a prolific performer in PSL ever since making his debut in 2018. However, the 21-year-old will now have the added responsibility of leading the team. He certainly has big shoes to fill as Akhtar is the most successful captain for the franchise, who led them to their only final in the competition back in PSL 5.

Meanwhile, Qalandars head coach Aqib Javed said his priority will be grooming the star pacer. “My priority is always to polish and see a young cricketer improving his career towards betterment. Never saw any cricketer groom so well and quickly with the skills as Shaheen Afridi,” said Aqib Javed, who was also present at the event.

Shaheen Afridi was Lahore Qalandars’ vice-captain in PSL 2021

Meanwhile, the young pacer isn’t be entirely alien with the leadership role as he was previously the deputy to Sohail Akhtar in PSL 6. It’s worth nothing that this will be Shaheen’s first-ever captaincy assignment in professional cricket and he would be raring to take Qalandars to their maiden title.

Meanwhile, Shaheen is currently the leading wicket-taker for the Qalandars and overall the seventh-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history. The left-arm pacer has 50 wickets at an average of 21.20 and an economy rate of 7.65 in 37 matches. The young speedster would be determined to enhance these numbers in the forthcoming season, which gets underway on January 27.

Lahore Qalandars’ squad for PSL 2022: Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Akhtar, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ahmed Daniyal, Fakhar Zaman, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun