Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: As part of the ongoing trophy tour celebrating their recent Pakistan Super League (PSL) title win, Lahore Qalandars owner Atif Rana visited the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and met with Chargé d'Affaires, Natalie A. Baker.
The visit served as a goodwill gesture, bringing together representatives of Lahore Qalandars and members of the U.S. Embassy’s cricket team and fan community. During the meeting, Mr. Rana presented a signed Lahore Qalandars jersey to Baker as a token of appreciation. The two sides shared their mutual passion for cricket and discussed the sport’s growing influence across cultures and borders.
Baker had attended two Qalandars matches this season, including the thrilling final and has been enthusiastic about team’s energy, resilience, and eventual become a title triumphant.
“Watching cricket live has been such an exciting experience,” said Ms Baker “I was thrilled to see such a huge fan base and such a crowd at Gaddafi Stadium the other night. As an American, I grew up around baseball, and it’s fascinating to see the parallels and passion that cricket inspires. With both sports now part of the Olympics, I look forward to seeing them spark even greater global connection. I want to sincerely thank the Lahore Qalandars for welcoming me and making me feel like part of their family.”
Rana expressed gratitude for the embassy’s engagement with cricket and extended appreciation to Ms. Baker for her support. “I’m truly delighted to see cricket sparking conversations at the U.S. Embassy and to witness the enthusiasm of American friends toward this beautiful game,” he said. “We’re especially thankful to Baker for attending our matches. She will forever be a part of the Qalandars family—as we say, once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar.”
Fresh off their PSL title victory, Lahore Qalandars continue to use the trophy tour to connect with fans and promote cricket development at home and abroad.
Lahore Qalandars have emerged as one of the most successful franchises in PSL history, winning three titles in four last years. They also hold the distinction of being the only team to win back-to-back championships, achieving this rare feat in 2022 and 2023.
