Atif Rana shares secret behind Lahore Qalandars’ talent hunt success

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.