PSL 11 set to start with Lahore-Hyderabad clash

LAHORE: Preparations are complete for the opening match of the 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, with defe­nding champions Lahore Qalandars taking on debutants Hyderabad Kings­men in a behind-closed-doors contest at the Gadd­afi Stadium on Thursday.

Captains of all eight participating teams addressed a joint pre-tournament press conference here on Wednesday, while the sides also conducted practice sessions at the LCCA ground.

Signs of PSL activity were evident throughout the Gaddafi Stadium vicinity.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars), Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi), David Warner (Karachi Kings), Shadab Khan (Islamabad United), Mar­nus Labuschagne (Hydera­bad Kingsmen), Ashton Turner (Multan Sultans), Mohammad Rizwan (Rawalpindi Pindiz) and Saud Shakeel (Quetta Gladiators) expressed optimism about a competitive tournament ahead, even as they lamented the absence of spectators due to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s austerity measures.

The decision follows the government’s energy conservation policy amid the ongoing USA-Israel conflict with Iran.

Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi voiced confidence in Lahore Qalandars mounting a strong title challenge, aiming for a fourth triumph.

“We will try our best to win the title once again. The boys prepared well during practice sessions in Islamabad before arriving in Lahore and we are looking forward to playing good cricket,” he said.

Shaheen noted that the PSL had produced several quality players for the national side over the past decade and hoped the trend would continue. How­ever, he declined to comment when asked whether he should relinquish the T20 captaincy in favour of focusing solely on ODIs.

“Let us keep our discussion limited to the PSL,” he remarked.

Former Pakistan captain Rizwan, who is leading Rawalpindi Pindiz, offered measured remarks on the league’s contribution to national cricket when questioned about expectations for the next 10 years.

“PSL is a commendable initiative of the PCB. Credit for taking it to this stage also goes to Najam Sethi, who launched it in 2016. The recent sale of a team for Rs245 crore shows how far we have come. While the nation may be disappointed with the current state of Pakistan cricket, as Shaheen mentioned, promising players are emerging from the junior ranks and we should remain hopeful,” Rizwan said.

He added that the national team’s combination was not yet settled, with some players perhaps not in their ideal roles.

“Once we sort these thi­ngs out, Pakistan will rise again and the nation will be happy,” he observed.

Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar acknowledged that his side’s bowling had struggled in the past but stressed the need for better execution of plans.

Regarding the lack of live spectators, Babar said crowds always provided a significant morale boost.

“We will miss them and they will miss us too. But we will try to play entertaining cricket so that fans can enjoy the action on their television screens,” he said.

Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Labuschagne said his team, making its PSL debut, was ready to compete despite the pressure inherent in any major league.

“We have discussed the roles of our players and our match strategies in detail and we trust their skills. This is a new chapter for the Kingsmen and a great opportunity to showcase what we can do,” he remarked.

Karachi Kings’ Warner highlighted the strength of his squad and expressed hope that the team would build on its performance from the previous season.

Multan Sultans captain Turner described the PSL as one of the finest T20 leagues in the world, featuring several talented players.

“I am eagerly looking forward to competing alongside them in the coming days,” he said.

Islamabad United skipper Shadab was asked about his inconsistent performances and whether they might affect his prospects of captaining the national T20 side, but he did not get the opportunity to respond as the questio­ner directed different queries to multiple captains.

In the previous 10 editions of the PSL, Lahore Qala­ndars (2022, 2023, 2025) and Islamabad Uni­ted (2016, 2018, 2024) have each won three titles. Pes­hawar Zalmi (2017), Multan Sultans (2021), Quetta Gladiators (2019) and Kar­achi Kings (2020) have lifted the trophy once apiece.

Two new franchises — Rawalpindi Pindiz and Hyderabad Kingsmen — have joined the league this season.

Multan Sultans, meanwhile, underwent a change of ownership after previous owner Ali Tareen parted ways with the PCB; the team was auctioned to new owners, who subsequently renamed it Rawalpindi Pindiz in line with PSL regulations.

Sialkot Stallions were ini­tially introduced as the eighth team but were later rebranded as Multan Sult­ans after a change in ownership.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026