Lahore Qalandars, one of the most dynamic franchises of the Pakistan Super League, can rightly be called the identity and true strength of the league. Since the beginning of the PSL in 2016, Lahore Qalandars have not only proven themselves successful through their remarkable projects,especially player development, agreements with foreign leagues, and now their association with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme but have also delivered through their work. As proof, the Pakistan Cricket Board has selected them as the most expensive franchise in the renewed agreement for the next ten years of the Pakistan Super League.

One of the world’s leading and professional services firms, Ernst & Young (EY MENA), after estimating the fair market value of all existing franchises over the past ten years of the PSL, concluded that in terms of performance and popularity, Lahore Qalandars stand out as the leading and most significant franchise. This fact was also openly acknowledged by the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi. And now, after new research and consultation, Lahore Qalandars have been declared the most valuable franchise of the Pakistan Super League.

On 4 December 2025, Lahore Qalandars’ owner and Chief Executive, Atif Rana, was a guest at the G&T Auditorium, Main Campus, IBA Karachi. Geo News’ renowned sports programme Score recorded this event, and Syed Yahya Hussaini performed the hosting duties.

Before the programme, IBA Registrar Dr. Muhammad Asad Ilyas welcomed Atif Rana and presented him with a shield on behalf of IBA, while Atif Rana gifted Dr. Asad a shield from the Qalandars.

Lahore Qalandars’ owner and Chief Executive, Atif Rana, said that they believe in practical work and they have proven it through their actions. He said that their first captain was Azhar Ali, and in the early seasons they believed in the ability and talent of foreign players. However, it took them some time to understand and learn how to move forward, and then they began their real work: conducting open talent hunts across Pakistan, holding more than five hundred thousand trials with complete transparency and impartiality.

An IBA student asked Atif Rana why Lahore Qalandars did not win a single trophy in the first six years, yet from 2022 to 2025 they became champions three times in four years? Atif Rana replied with a smile: “Only belief, a positive mindset, and trust in our young talent!”

Atif Rana said that their franchise selected Haris Rauf through player development; on 24 January 2020, Haris Rauf was selected for Pakistan for the first time to play T20 cricket. Today, he is not just Pakistan’s premier fast bowler but also one of the most successful bowlers in T20 cricket. They selected Shaheen Afridi as a fast bowler and then assessed his hidden leadership qualities, and he proved himself a successful captain who led them to become champions.

They played Muhammad Naeem from Kohat in the emerging category, and he became the first emerging player to make his mark as a batsman in PSL history. They relied on the ability of Fakhar Zaman from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and he emerged as a dependable batsman. From Mirpur, a fast bowler like Zaman Khan played for their team.

Atif Rana said that these were just a few of the things about Lahore Qalandars that helped take them to the very top.

While discussing the question raised by the IBA administration about creating harmony between Lahore Qalandars and the students, as well as shaping their future mindset, Atif Rana said that the way they have now decided to move forward with Qalandars’ initiatives alongside cricket has been given the name “Friends of Qalandars.” Here, they aim to connect closely with the youth and try to provide them pathways in various fields of life.

He said they have signed an agreement with a university in Lahore for this purpose, and in Karachi they are moving forward with a biomechanical lab in collaboration with NED University. Before the Pakistan Super League Season “Ten,” they held an event at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore under the name “Fans of Qalandars,” where a musical night was also organized. Lahore Qalandars gathered more than one hundred thousand people at Minar-e-Pakistan.

This was not a political rally, he added, but a strong appreciation of a franchise’s successful efforts and achievements for which they are grateful to the people of Pakistan and its youth.