Shahid Afridi signs up as Qalandars' icon player for Abu Dhabi T10 League

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has renewed ties with the Qalandars as an icon player for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 league. The tournament is scheduled to be played from January 28, 2021 to February 6 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Afridi had previously signed a similar deal in 2019 but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had decided against issuing NOCs to Pakistan players for the tournament.

Last year, Lahore Qalandars owner Fawad Rana’s brother Sameen Rana bought a T10 franchise and named it Qalandars. Most of the players in the squad were from Pakistan while Afridi was named as the icon player as well as captain. The team was compiled after the PCB had allowed Pakistan players to be drafted in the league.

But later the PCB sprung a huge surprise by revoking the permission and refusing to grant NOCs to the players for the tournament. In their statement, the PCB said that the decision had been taken “to manage the players’ workload, continued work on their fitness levels [and] to ensure primacy and participation of its players in its premier Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.”

An exciting and experienced cricketer

Sameen Rana has expressed his delight over securing Shahid Afridi’s services for the upcoming season. The Qalandars CEO hailed the veteran allrounder as ‘an exciting and experienced cricketer’ and said that the team is proud to have him as an icon player.

“Shahid Afridi is an exciting and experienced cricketer. The Qalandars family is proud to welcome him back as an icon player for this season of Abu Dhabi T10. We look forward to welcoming him to Qalandars family and hope that his presence will take the team to new heights in the season,” Rana said according to ESPNCricinfo.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi T10 League has confirmed that the eight teams, which participated in the tournament’s third edition last year, will return for the fourth season.  The eight sides that will participate in the upcoming edition are Team Abu Dhabi, Maratha Arabians, Bangla Tigers, Deccan Gladiators, Qalandars, Delhi Bulls, Northern Warriors, and Pune Devils. Karnataka Tuskers have been renamed as Pune Devils.