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"Show Me One IPL Team" Lahore Qalandars CEO Claims PSL Builds Talent Like No Other League

Jatin

PSL vs IPL is a never ending debate [Source: @KashmiriSayz/x.com]PSL vs IPL is a never ending debate [Source: @KashmiriSayz/x.com]

The PSL vs IPL debate just got a fresh spark. This time, it is coming straight from the Lahore Qalandars’ camp. In a no-holds-barred chat, Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana has doubled down on the franchise’s long-term vision, calling out leagues like the IPL for not truly building players. 

Atif Rana Shades IPL With Bold Take On PSL's PDP Success

Instead of chasing shiny names, Atif believes LQ’s real win lies in their grassroots hustle.

“Today, because of PSL and LQ PDP, Harry Brook is the captain of England. Tell me one team from the IPL or any other league whose player has reached this level because of them,” Atif said on the Public Podcast.

Tim David, Phil Salt And Global Reach

Atif Rana didn’t just name local talent. He reminded everyone how Lahore Qalandars gave international names their first break too.

“We brought in Tim David. Phil Salt went to Australia under Sohail Akhtar’s captaincy with the PDP squad.”

These names are now lighting up leagues around the world but their journey, Atif insists, started with the Qalandars.

From Being Last In Drafts To First In Development

Back when LQ were struggling on the field, they were also being written off at the draft table. Always picking last, always grabbing what was left.

“Our picks were barely 29 to 31 years old in the ‘emerging’ category. People said Pakistan’s cricket talent had dried up,” Atif revealed in a chat with Cricket Pakistan.

But instead of folding, Lahore went all-in on an idea most thought was madness; building a nationwide Player Development Program (PDP) that went beyond the usual city-based scouting. LQ’s PDP took open trials to every corner — Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and beyond.

“We physically tried over 650,000 kids. That’s where the real talent was hiding — outside the rope,”  he added.

And it paid off. Big time.

We are talking Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman, all modern-day Pakistan mainstays, all polished by Qalandars’ system.