Marnus Labuschagne was shocked when the 2026 edition of the Pakistan Super League got underway on Thursday, March 26, with the opening match of the tournament sparking an unexpected controversy. The season-opening clash between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium saw the white ball gradually change color during the first innings, turning pink and later deep red, leaving players and fans stunned.
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What should have been a routine start to the season instead turned into a what described by many as a “pink ball competition”, with TV cameras clearly capturing the change in color of the ball over the course of the innings. The problem appeared to stem from a common practice in limited-overs cricket where fielders rub the ball against their jerseys to maintain the shine. However, in this case, the maroon dye from the Hyderabad Kingsmen kit started pouring onto the white ball.
Top standards of Pakistan Super League
During the very first match of PSL 11, the ball literally turned pink every time the Hyderabad Kingsmen players rubbed it against their gear.
Did they get knock off kits instead of authentic ones?
International league or ravine-level experiment? pic.twitter.com/Beq5zhmSkb— The Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) March 26, 2026
As the Lahore Qalandars innings picked up pace, the change in color became more and more noticeable. What started as a faint pink tinge soon deepened, raising concerns about visibility under lights and the overall fairness of playing conditions. The unusual nature of the incident also led to immediate attention on the pitch.
Labuschagne, who is leading the Hyderabad Kingsmen this season, was quick to take issue with the umpires. The Australian all-rounder was seen talking to them at the start of the innings after noticing the change in colour.
Labuschagne said after the match that he had never seen anything like it in professional cricket before.
“After the second game, I said to the referees, ‘What’s going on? The ball is red.’ It must be from clothing or something. I haven’t seen anything like that,” Labuschagne said at the post-match press conference.
He added that while a small amount of paint coming off bats or pads is not unheard of, this was different.
“I’ve seen a few times that there’s something on somebody’s bat and it gets on the ball or it hits the pad and takes some paint off the pad, but I’ve never seen any clothes, so I’m sure they’ll sort that out in the next few games,” he said.
The incident quickly caught the attention of fans on social media, with the Hyderabad Kingsmen facing criticism as clips and pictures of the discolored ball went viral. For a tournament that prides itself on professionalism and global reach, the episode raised questions about quality control.
Despite the controversy, Lahore Qalandars put up a strong performance. Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Lahore posted 199/4 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first.
Fakhar Zaman scored 53 at the top of the order while Haseebullah Khan added an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls to take the total past 190.
Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled to respond and never looked like they were in control of the chase. Ubaid Shah, Sikandar Raza and Haris Rauf took two wickets each to break the back of the innings.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each as Hyderabad were bowled out for 130 in 20 overs, giving Lahore a 69-run win.
The controversy comes at a time when the PSL is already facing difficult conditions. Matches in the 2026 season are being played behind closed doors due to the crisis in West Asia affecting the atmosphere around the tournament. The competition was also limited to two locations, Lahore and Karachi.
The league has also seen several overseas players opt out or transfer to the Indian Premier League, with many signing as substitutes ahead of the upcoming season.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
27 March 2026 08:51 IST
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