When Lahore Qalandars (LQ) finished in fourth position of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025/26 group-stage with five victories in 10 games at a net run rate of 1.036, no one gave them a chance to qualify for the final, let alone lift the title. But a sensational performance in the final against Quetta Gladiators saw them win the title. 

In the platinum category, the management decided to retain their left-arm pacer and captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is one of the premier pacers of the national side, especially in the shortest format of the game. In the last season of the league, he picked up 19 wickets in just twelve innings at an average of 16.42, a strike rate of 12.6, and an economy rate of 7.76.

See Also: List of retained players for Quetta Gladiators (QG) ahead of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026

The second player to get retained in the diamond category for the Lahore franchise is Abdullah Shafique. The right-handed opening bat of the franchise collected 390 runs in 13 innings at an average of 32.50, and the strike rate of nearly 150, shouldering on three half-centuries.

List of Lahore Qalandars’ retained players ahead of PSL 2026

In the gold category, there was no doubt of the management keeping the Zimbabwe captain and the spin all-rounder, Sikander Raza, who hit the winning run for the side in the previous final. The veteran of the shortest format of the game smashed 254 runs in 10 innings during the last season of the tournament at a strike rate of nearly 170, thanks to his couple of half-centuries.

Even with the ball, the spinner picked up 10 wickets at an average of 17.20 and an economy rate of 7.75, which was his best season with the ball in PSL history. Mohammad Naeem is the player in the silver category.

The right-handed batter featured in his maiden season of the PSL in 2025, where he blasted three 114 runs in 12 innings at an average of 26.16 and a strike rate of more than 160, thanks to his three half-centuries at the best score of 65.

Lahore Qalandars’ retained players ahead of PSL 2026

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold), Mohammad Naeem (Silver)