PSL under fire as the ball turns red again in Pakistan NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) continues to face unusual controversy this season, with the match ball changing color yet again, this time during the clash against Karachi Kings. In a bizarre repeat of an earlier incident, dye from players’ equipment allegedly rubbed onto the white ball, turning it red during play.Watch:
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The Ashok Sharma Story: Inside the Village and House That Shaped India’s New Pace SensationThis is the second such incident in PSL 2026. Earlier in the opening match between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium, the ball turned pink due to color transfer from the jerseys. The incident left players and officials confused and attracted widespread attention.Reacting to the episode, Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne said, “After the second game, I said to the umpires, ‘What’s going on? The ball is red.’ It must be from clothing or something. I’ve never seen anything like that,” before adding: “I’ve seen cases where something on the bat has gotten on the ball or it’s hit the pad and taken some of the paint off. But I’ve never seen it with the clothes. I’m sure they’ll sort it out in the next few games.”Amid the off-field debate, Karachi Kings secured a decisive five-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars. Chasing 200, captain David Warner anchored the innings with an unbeaten 63 while Khushdil Shah provided a late flourish with a blistering 44 off just 14 balls.Earlier, Abdullah Shafique (62) and Fakhar Zaman (61) powered the Qalandars to 199/5 with a 110-run stand. Despite the strong total, Karachi chased it down with eight balls to spare and kept their playoff hopes alive.However, with the re-emergence of the ball color issue, questions are being raised about the quality of the kit and the terms of the match, adding an unusual twist to PSL 2026.
