Lahore Qalandars' captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has expressed confidence in the addition of key players like Daryl Mitchell and Kusal Perera to strengthen his team's performance in the upcoming 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).
In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Shaheen shared his thoughts on the team's strategy and expectations for the upcoming season.
Shaheen praised the addition of all the players in the Lahore Qalandars squad, including emerging players, and emphasized the importance of foreign players, who have performed well for their respective countries.
He said, "I have high hopes for all the players in the Lahore Qalandars squad, including the emerging players. All the foreign players have performed well for their countries. With the arrival of Daryl Mitchell, the gap in our middle-order batting will be filled. Mitchell has already showcased his excellence in Pakistan, and we believe he will add significant strength to our batting lineup."
Shaheen also highlighted the potential impact of Kusal Perera, saying, "Kusal Perera will prove to be an impact player for us."
Captaincy snub
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his thoughts on being removed from the captaincy after the T20I series against New Zealand.
Shaheen, who led Pakistan in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, shared his views in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan.
When asked whether being sacked as captain broke his heart, Shaheen jokingly replied, "I don't have a heart these days."
He further expressed his honor at representing Pakistan, saying, "I am happy that I was the captain of Pakistan. It was a proud moment."
Shaheen added, "You feel proud that you have done something for Pakistan. I am always happy when someone wins the match for Pakistan. Someone has been batting well. I am always proud to represent Pakistan in any field."
Shaheen also shared his thoughts on workload management and opting out of any format.
"I have never thought of leaving any format of cricket for Pakistan. Ever since I started playing cricket, I have always thought of giving a performance for Pakistan. God has given me a lot of respect in this. I always want to enjoy playing cricket," he concluded.
Batting position
Lahore Qalandars captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, discusses his batting position in the PSL. Shaheen, who came to bat early at times in last year's PSL, expressed his approach regarding his batting position in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan.
Shaheen explained, "When I come to bat early, the team is already four to five wickets down at an early stage. I come to bat because the team needs me. I don't want the main batters of the team to go out there in a difficult situation. I try to go under the pressure and make some quick runs," he said.
"If I get out doing that, there's no importance to my wicket, but if a senior batter went out in that situation, the team would be under pressure," he added. Pakistan Super League match tickets
"I try to handle the pressure for the team. If we get some runs, the pressure on the other team will increase," he further added.
He also denied his role as an all-rounder and emphasized his bowling, saying, "I don't have any such intention of being an all-rounder. It happens for fun. My job is to bowl and then bat."
The 10th edition of the PSL will begin on Friday, April 11, with defending champions Islamabad United taking on two-time winners Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
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