Durban Qalandars is a professional T10 franchise cricket team which competed in the inaugural 2023 edition of the Zim Afro T10 league. The franchise is owned by the same management behind the Lahore Qalandars (a PSL team).
The Durban Qalandars franchise was launched in June 2023 as part of the new Zim Afro T10 tournament, organized by Zimbabwe Cricket and T Ten Global Sports. [1]
In the inaugural season (21–29 July 2023), Durban Qalandars won the championship by defeating the **Joburg Buffaloes** in the final by 8 wickets. [2] [3]
Durban Qalandars is owned by Pakistani businessmen **Atif Naeem Rana** and **Sameen Naeem Rana**, who also own the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. [4]
The branding and logo align strongly with the Lahore Qalandars identity, using green and Sufi imagery. The logo also integrates design elements reflecting its African base. [5]
Although based in Durban, the Qalandars franchise is not connected to the now-defunct Mzansi Super League (MSL). The MSL’s Durban side was **Durban Heat**, not Durban Qalandars. Durban Qalandars was founded for the Zim Afro T10 in 2023 and is linked to the Lahore Qalandars organization.
Here is a more complete list of the 2023 squad for Durban Qalandars (from multiple sources): [6] [7]
| Player | Role | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Asif Ali | Batter / Icon player | Pakistan |
| Mohammad Amir | Bowler | Pakistan |
| George Linde | All‑rounder | South Africa |
| Hazratullah Zazai | Batter | Afghanistan |
| Tim Seifert | Wicket‑keeper / Batter | New Zealand |
| Sisanda Magala | Bowler | South Africa |
| Hilton Cartwright | All‑rounder | Australia |
| Mirza Tahir Baig | All‑rounder / Spinner | Pakistan |
| Tayyab Abbas | Bowler | Pakistan |
| Craig Ervine (c) | Batter / Captain | Zimbabwe |
| Tendai Chatara | Bowler | Zimbabwe |
| Brad Evans | Bowler | Zimbabwe |
| Clive Madande | Wicket‑keeper | Zimbabwe |
| Nick Welch | Batter | Zimbabwe |
| Andre Fletcher | Batter | West Indies |
| Competition | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Zim Afro T10 | 2023 | Champions (inaugural edition) [2] |
Below are some confirmed match results from Durban Qalandars’ 2023 season. This is not complete — more group stage matches should be added when verified:
| Match No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Margin / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 22 July 2023 | Joburg Buffaloes | **Won** | by 7 wickets [8] |
| 9 | 23 July 2023 | Bulawayo Braves | **Won** | by 25 runs [9] |
| 13 | 25 July 2023 | Joburg Buffaloes | **Won** | by 2 runs [10] |
| 17 | 26 July 2023 | Harare Hurricanes | **Lost** | by 24 runs [11] |
| 19 | 27 July 2023 | Bulawayo Braves | **Won** | by 7 runs [12] |
| Qualifier 2 | 28 July 2023 | Harare Hurricanes | **Won** | by 4 wickets [13] |
| Final | 29 July 2023 | Joburg Buffaloes | **Won** | by 8 wickets [3] [14] |
Durban Qalandars were crowned champions in the inaugural 2023 Zim Afro T10. In the final, they successfully chased 127 in 9.2 overs. Key contributors included **Hazratullah Zazai** (43*) who sealed the win, **Tim Seifert** (30 runs) and **Andre Fletcher** (29) in earlier overs. [15] [16]