Lahore Qalandars, a top team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, presented their captain Shaheen Afridi with a 24-carat gold-coated iPhone 16 Pro. The move, made on Easter, was a token of appreciation for Afridi's captaincy. The franchise made the announcement on their official social media handle, referring to the gift as a specially commissioned piece of work for the captain. The decision was taken at a time when the rival team Karachi Kings were in the spotlight for presenting relatively low-profile gifts to their players, such as grooming kits.
Gift Sparks Interest During PSL Gift Row
On the part of Easter celebrations, Lahore Qalandars also celebrated by giving players and support staff festive gifts. Shaheen Afridi, among them as the captain, was given the most notable of all — a gold-plated iPhone 16 Pro. The franchise wanted the highlight of the gesture to be the fact that the phone had been especially made for their captain. The gesture was in appreciation of the team's gratitude towards Afridi for his captaincy during the ongoing PSL 2025 season.
The choice of gift, however, stirred internal discussion. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, a teammate of Afridi, publicly expressed concerns about the exclusivity of the gesture, stating it was "unfair" to single out the captain. His comment highlighted underlying sentiments within the squad about equity and recognition.
Karachi Kings Face Criticism for Player Gifts
Concurrently, Lahore's act drew more publicity after criticism against the Karachi Kings. The Kings had been lambasted earlier during the tournament when they had handed English cricketer James Vince a hairdryer in the dressing room. Later, after a match with Lahore on April 16, fast bowler Hasan Ali presented the team with electric trimmers. These gifts, described as uninspiring by fans and pundits, drew unfavorable comparisons to Lahore's luxury gift.
Despite the off-field controversy, Lahore Qalandars made a good performance in the league. They won two out of three matches and finished second in the PSL 2025 league position as a whole. Field consistency and off-field generosity on the part of the franchise have added up to maintain their place as one of the strong players in the league.
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