Defending champions Lahore Qalandars on Thursday announced the direct signing of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the historic 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from March 26 to May 3.
The announcement was made on the franchise’s official social media handles, confirming the return of Rahman, who previously represented the team. The post also revealed that his direct signing fee was PKR 64.4 million.
“Our Bangladeshi brother Mustafizur Rahman, who was selected in 2016 and 2018, now we are directly signed and finally back with the family. Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar,” the post said.
Lahore Qalandars owner Sameen Rana expressed his excitement over Rahman’s return, highlighting the pacer’s long association with the franchise and his importance to the team’s aspirations for PSL 11.
“Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur was not just a player; he was a brother, an integral part of our family and never separated,” Rana said.
“We are delighted to welcome him back to our dressing room. His talent, experience and commitment will be invaluable as we defend our title and make a statement in PSL 11,” he added.
Qalandar have already retained key players including captain Shaheen Afridi, top-order batsman Abdullah Shafiq, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza and promising youngster Mohammad Naeem.
These strategic retentions strengthen the team’s core ahead of the upcoming auction and set the stage for another competitive campaign.
Shaheen Afridi has been retained in the Platinum category with a fee of PKR 70 million, while Abdullah Shafiq will earn PKR 22 million in the Diamond category.
Sikandar Raza, who was retained in the gold category, received PKR 28 million, while Mohammad Naeem, who was selected from the emerging category, will receive PKR 7 million.
In the upcoming auction, the owners have been allocated a total budget of PKR 450 million. So far, Qalandars have spent PKR 191.4 million on their retained players and direct signings.
The left-arm fast bowler has taken four wickets in five PSL matches for the three-time champions.
It is pertinent to mention that with PSL growing from six to eight teams, the upcoming edition will also see a major expansion.
Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallions are new additions and debutants in the upcoming season.
Fawad Sarwar bought the Hyderabad franchise after a successful bid of 1.75 billion (approx. $6.25 million).
Meanwhile, the franchise of Sialkot Stallions was won by Hamza Majeed, who topped the auction, who fetched Rs. He led the team in their inaugural PSL campaign with a bid of 1.85 billion.
For the uninitiated, the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League will begin on March 26 and end on May 3.
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