The Pakistan Super League (PSL) had a controversial start on their opening day after an incident saw the regular white ball turn pink during the first match of the season due to colour transfer from the Hyderabad Kingsmen’s jerseys. The issue, noted as a first-time occurrence by Marnus Labuschagne which quickly drew attention on social media. The PSL began its 2026 season on March 26, but controversy struck in the opening game itself. The clash between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore unexpectedly turned into what fans described as a ‘pink-ball contest.’ The Hyderabad Kingsmen captain alerted the umpires that the ball was changing colour, explaining that dye from his team’s jerseys was rubbing off onto the white ball, gradually turning it pink and later reddish.
“I did say to the umpires after the second over, ‘What’s going on? The ball is red.’ It must be from the clothes or something like that. I haven’t seen anything like this before,” a baffled Labuschagne told reporters at the post-match press conference.“I’ve seen occasions where something on a bat comes onto the ball, or when it hits the pad and takes a bit of paint off. But I’ve never seen this happen with clothing. I’m sure they’ll sort it out in the next few games,” he added.After the conclusion of the match the Hyderabad Kingsmen posted a cheeky post on X after their poor kit jersey turned the match into a ‘pink-ball contest’.Cricketers often polish the ball using their jerseys or a towel to maintain its shine, which helps bowlers generate swing. However, this incident has raised serious concerns, with many calling it an embarrassment for the PSL. Questions are being asked about how such poor-quality kits were approved, allowing jersey colour to transfer onto the match ball. The Australian star expressed hope that the franchise owners would resolve the issue quickly.
Match Summary
Lahore Qalandars began their PSL 2026 campaign with a dominant 69-run win over Hyderabad Kingsmen. Batting first, Lahore posted 199/4, powered by Fakhar Zaman’s 53 and an unbeaten 40 from Haseebullah Khan. In response, Hyderabad were bowled out for 130, with Ubaid Shah, Sikandar Raza, and Haris Rauf taking two wickets each.The tournament is being played behind closed doors due to the West Asia crisis and is limited to Lahore and Karachi. PSL 2026 has also been impacted by the loss of several overseas players, many of whom have joined IPL teams as replacements.
