Shakib Al Hasan drafted straight into Lahore Qalandars XI for must-win PSL showdown

Barely 24 hours after arriving in Islamabad, Bangladesh’s premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been thrust into Lahore Qalandars’ do-or-die clash against Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi—a match that effectively serves as a quarter-final for the defending champions.

Lahore’s regular overseas star Daryl Mitchell has been sidelined with a hand injury, and the franchise moved swiftly to sign Shakib as his replacement. The 37-year-old joined the squad on 17 May and goes straight into today’s XI as Qalandars look to seal the final playoff berth in their last group-stage fixture.

• Scenario: Win and Lahore advance; defeat would eliminate them from the 2025 Pakistan Super League.

• Context: This is Shakib’s first competitive appearance since 30 November last year, when he turned out for Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

• Impact: The left-hander’s experience and three-dimensional skill-set are expected to bolster a side that has lacked balance since Mitchell’s injury.

If Qalandars triumph, Shakib’s PSL stint will extend into next week’s playoffs—potentially giving him several matches to tune up ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming international commitments.