this pakistan super league (PSL) In the first match of the season, there was controversy on the opening day as the color shift in the Hyderabad Kings jersey caused the regular white ball to turn pink. The issue was noted as occurring for the first time Marnus Labuschagne It quickly attracted attention on social media. The PSL 2026 season started on March 26, but the opening match itself sparked controversy. The match between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore unexpectedly turned into what fans call a ‘pink ball match’. The Hyderabad Kings captain alerted the umpires that the ball was changing colour, explaining that dye from his team’s jersey had rubbed onto the white ball, gradually turning pink and later red.“After the second round, I did say to the referee, ‘What happened? The ball is red.'” It must have come from clothing or something like that. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” a bewildered Labuschagne told reporters at his post-match press conference.“I’ve seen situations where something on the bat hits the ball, or the ball hits the pad and comes off a little bit of paint. But I’ve never seen that happen with clothes. I’m sure they’ll fix that in the next few games,” he added.After the game, Hyderabad Kings posted a cheeky post on Cricketers often use jerseys or towels to wipe the ball to maintain its shine, which helps bowlers generate their swing. However, the incident raised serious concerns, with many calling it a disgrace to the PSL. Questions have been raised about how these inferior jerseys were approved, resulting in the colors being transferred to the match balls. The Australian star expressed hope that the franchise owners can resolve the issue soon.
Game summary
Lahore Qalandars started their PSL 2026 season by defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by 69 runs. Batting first, Lahore posted 199/4, powered by Fakhar Zaman’s 53 and Haseebullah Khan’s unbeaten 40. In reply, Hyderabad were bowled out for 130 with Ubaid Shah, Sikandar Raza and Haris Rauf taking two wickets each.Due to the crisis in West Asia, the matches will be played behind closed doors and only in Lahore and Karachi. PSL 2026 has also been affected by the loss of several overseas players, many of whom have joined IPL teams as replacements.
