Lahore Qalandars -- a spectacular comeback

Lahore Qalandars, the team which started the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a defeat and continued this trend until its fourth match against Karachi Kings, marched to the semi-finals on Sunday. The rather unexpected development for many, including the squad’s diehard fans, prompted many to congratulate the team.

The team, which provided its critics sufficient time to give their critical analyses and social media users to share a good number of memes, mostly funny and involving Fawad Rana, the owner, refused to surrender even after three consecutive defeats.

The squad, which started gaining momentum quite late in the competition, put a brave show in the face of a tough 187-run target and defeated Multan Sultans by nine wickets in the 29th match of the PSL 2020 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.

As Ben Dunk, Samit Patel, Sohail Akhtar and Shaheen Afridi, to name a few, have been instrumental in their team’s previous wins, Chris Lynn was the hero of the last league match against Multan Sultans in Lahore on Sunday. Lynn scored an unbeaten 113 runs off just 55 balls with the help of eight sixes and 12 fours. His opening partner, Fakhar Zaman, was the only batsman who got out. However, he had already done the damage to the opponents by hitting 57 runs off 35 balls with two sixes and seven fours.

Former skipper Rashid Latif congratulated the team for reaching the semi-finals. He tweeted:

Congratulations @lahoreqalandars great professional batting by @lynny50 against top team of the #PSL2020 #LQvsMs pic.twitter.com/rPGS55bAtu

— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) March 15, 2020

Shafqat Amanat Ali, the popular singer from Lahore, also came out in support of Lahore Qalandars as the outfit made its way to the semi-finals. He tweeted:

Finally Lahore Qalandars make it to the semi finals. Proud of you guys and looking forward to seeing you stand tall in the finals. #LQvMS

— Shafqat Amanat Ali (@ShafqatAmanatA) March 15, 2020

Hamid Mir, the top TV anchor of the country, came out with his support to Chris Lynn for not leaving the country despite coronavirus outbreak. He tweeted:

I love you.Despite the fear of #COVIDー19 everywhere Chris Lynn refused to leave #Pakistan he is still playing #PSL2020 and today he scored a marvellous 100 for #LahoreQalandars against #MultanSultans #WellPlayedChrisLynn pic.twitter.com/VAkmnlDBQS

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) March 15, 2020

After Sunday’s match, Ali Khan Tareen, the man who owns the Multan Sultans squad, came out with a rather funny tweet about a young Lahore Qalandars fan, who was seen crying in a social media video over his favourite team’s defeat in the match. He tweeted:

If @lahoreqalandars reach the Final against @MultanSultans I request this person be banned from from the stadium. Lahore hasn’t lost a game while he’s been there. Not fair. pic.twitter.com/Yjz1PdNAXL

— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) March 15, 2020