Lahore Qalandars Announce Last-Minute Replacement for Injured Fast Bowler Ahead of PSL 11

Lahore Qalandars have been forced into a squad change ahead of the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) after young fast bowler Ali Shabbir was ruled out of the tournament with an injury.

The defending PSL champions have announced left-arm pacer Shahab Khan as his replacement.

The franchise confirmed that Ali Shabbir suffered a right-hand injury while fielding for Bahawalpur during the National T20 Cup. After medical examination, the pacer was declared unavailable for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League.

Shabbir, who had been picked in the Under-23 category, was seen as one of the promising young players in the Qalandars setup.

He also took part in the team’s ongoing conditioning camp at the Smart Qalandars High Performance Center in Islamabad, where further assessment by the medical staff found that he had sustained a fracture. He has now been advised to rest for four to six weeks.

A product of the Qalandars Player Development Programme, Shabbir featured in PDP 2025 and had emerged as one of the notable prospects coming through the system. His injury comes as a blow to both the player and the franchise ahead of the new season.

🚨 Shahab Khan is officially a Qalandar!

The left-arm pacer, who was the second-highest wicket taker (13 in 5 matches) of the recently held National T20 tournament, will be joining LQ in place of Ali Shabbir who has been ruled out due to injury. pic.twitter.com/fa2xe9ygDQ

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 19, 2026

In his place, Lahore Qalandars have brought in left-arm pacer Shahab Khan, who impressed in the recently concluded National T20 tournament. Shahab finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition, claiming 13 wickets in five matches.

PSL 11 is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3 and will feature eight teams this season. Lahore Qalandars will begin their title defense against Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen on March 26.