Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana revealed how a bold decision to launch a nationwide Player Development Program turned the franchise from perennial underdogs into a powerhouse of raw, homegrown talent.
In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana opened up about the franchise's game-changing decision after being told that "there's no talent left in Pakistan."
"At the time, we were always the last ones in the draft. Our picks were barely 29 to 31 years old in the 'emerging' category. People said Pakistan's cricket talent had dried up - even top officials dismissed the idea of any new stars," Atif shared.
Determined to challenge that narrative, Lahore Qalandars launched their nationwide PDP, conducting open trials across Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other regions.
"We physically tried over 650,000 kids. That's where the real talent was hiding - outside the system, outside the rope," he added.
This grassroots initiative led to the discovery and development of major players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman, who are now central figures in Pakistan's national team.
Atif stressed that true development takes time.
"Your son can't finish matric in one year - just like that, building stars takes patience. Others focused on winning. We focused on building," he said.
Atif also called for a major overhaul of the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) financial model, urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to implement a more franchise-friendly structure that promotes long-term growth and sustainability.
Rana pointed out that under the current setup, franchises do not truly own the teams they represent. "We're merely custodians of the brand. If PSL wants to compete with leagues like the IPL, we need a no-fee, revenue-sharing model," he said.
Rana further emphasized that PSL must be treated as a year-round brand rather than just a seasonal tournament. While he appreciated recent progress under PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, he stressed that deeper structural reforms are necessary for the league to achieve its full potential.
The brilliant LQ owner also opened up about the background story behind appointing Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain. He shared insights into former Prime Minister and cricket legend Imran Khan's thoughts on the young pacer's leadership role in the franchise.
Rana clarified that Shaheen was not made captain on Imran Khan's suggestion. Instead, the decision was made by Lahore Qalandars' think tank, with Sameen Rana playing a key role in choosing him as the leader.
"We had a meeting with Imran Khan after we made Shaheen the captain," Atif Rana said.
"At that time, Imran Khan praised our decision and told Shaheen, 'If you keep playing like this, you will rule world cricket for the next 8 to 10 years,'" he added.
Rana also shared an interesting remark from the cricket legend.
"Imran Khan said he doesn't consider batsmen as captains - he believes a true captain is a bowler," he added.
Rana also shared that while Imran Khan was not directly involved in making the decision, his endorsement of Shaheen as captain was a big moment for the team.
"Hearing such words from such a legend was very special for us and for Shaheen as well," Rana concluded.
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