Lahore Qalandars have added a flashy twist to the Pakistan Super League 2025 awards conversation by gifting their captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, a custom 24K gold-plated iPhone 16 Pro. The extravagant gift appears to be a light-hearted jab at Karachi Kings, who recently came under fire for awarding unusual post-match prizes.
The moment was shared through a video on Lahore Qalandars’ official social media platforms, showing team management presenting the luxury phone to Afridi. The gesture comes in response to Karachi Kings’ decision to award England’s James Vince a hair dryer after his match-winning century against Multan Sultans on April 12. Vince, who scored 100 off just 42 balls, was given the prize as part of the ‘Most Reliable Player of the Match’ award, sponsored by Dawlance.
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Cricket fans and social media users quickly picked up on the contrast between the two franchises. While Karachi Kings opted for a quirky appliance as a reward, Lahore Qalandars went all-in on prestige and presentation. Afridi’s iPhone giveaway sparked widespread attention, with many praising the franchise’s creative and humorous way of responding to their PSL rivals.
Adding fuel to the online chatter, Vince himself posted on Instagram with the caption, “Lovely upgrade on the hotel dryer,” poking fun at the prize. The moment quickly turned into meme content across platforms, putting Karachi Kings in the spotlight for their unconventional awards strategy.
Further adding to the saga, Karachi Kings later presented Hasan Ali with a beard trimmer following his 4-wicket haul against Lahore Qalandars, despite losing the match by 65 runs. The series of odd gifts has raised questions about the franchise’s promotional choices and how seriously such awards are being taken.
In contrast, Lahore Qalandars’ approach has resonated with fans, positioning them not only as strong contenders on the field but also as savvy marketers off it. With the PSL 2025 season heating up, these moments of off-field banter are adding an extra layer of entertainment for followers of the league.
As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on whether other franchises join in on the quirky awards trend—or if the focus will return solely to performance and trophies.
