Big blow for Lahore Qalandars after Sikandar Raza ruled out of PSL X

Lahore Qalandars have suffered another setback in their difficult Pakistan Super League (PSL) season. Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza will miss the rest of PSL X due to international duty.

The PSL will resume on May 17 after a short break, but many teams are expected to look different. For Lahore Qalandars, it's not about security concerns; Raza is unavailable because he is in Zimbabwe to prepare for their upcoming Test series, which starts on May 22. This series is special for Zimbabwe, as they return to red-ball cricket, and Raza is an important part of the squad.

The 38-year-old has been one of the few bright spots for Lahore this season. He performed well with both bat and ball. In 9 matches, he scored 228 runs with an impressive strike rate of 162.85 and also took eight wickets in 8 innings. His all-round skills played a key role in keeping Qalandars in the race for the playoffs, where they are competing closely with Peshawar Zalmi.

Raza's absence will probably hurt Lahore's chances, especially in the middle order and their overall team balance. With the playoffs just around the corner and the final scheduled for May 25 in Lahore, the Qalandars now have to adjust quickly.

There may be more bad news for Lahore fans. The team is also unsure about the availability of Sam Billings and Daryl Mitchell for the final stage of the tournament. Their status will become clear in the coming days.

With their dream of a third PSL title still alive, Lahore Qalandars must now consider replacements and regroup fast to finish the season strong.