Chasing a challenging target of 200 runs, Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled from the start at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore tonight
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-March 26th, 2026) Defending champions Lahore Qalandars made a spectacular start to PSL 11, defeating debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen by 69 runs in the tournament opener at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Winning the toss, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi opted to bat first. Opener Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem gave the team a strong start, scoring 64 runs in the first six overs and building an 84-run partnership by the eighth over. Mohammad Naeem was the first to fall, scoring 39 off 19 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Fakhar Zaman went on to complete his half-century but was dismissed for 53, leaving the team at 94 runs. Pervaiz Hussain Iman added 14 runs in a brief cameo.
Middle-order batsmen Haseebullah Khan and Sikandar Raza accelerated the innings, taking Lahore past 150 in the 17th over. Haseebullah scored 40 off 28 balls, while Sikandar contributed 24 runs. Asif Ali added 9 more runs before being dismissed. Qalandars finished their 20 overs with a commanding 199 runs. Riley Meredith and Hassan Khan claimed two wickets each for Hyderabad, while Mohammad Ali took one.
Chasing a challenging target, Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled from the start. Osman Khan fell for 0, followed by Saeem Ayub who managed just 17 runs. The Kingsmen’s innings never recovered, with the team being bowled out for 130 in the final over, handing Lahore a 69-run victory in their PSL debut match.
The opening ceremony of PSL 11 was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and other dignitaries. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram unveiled the tournament trophy before the match.
Initially, the tournament was set to feature 44 matches across six cities, but now, the new schedule includes 22 matches in Karachi and 22 matches in Lahore.
Lahore Qalandars opt to bat first as fans watch from home
Lahore Qalandars, the defending champions, on Thursday won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 against the newly introduced Hyderabad Kingsmen.
The highly anticipated match, which marks the beginning of PSL's 11th edition, is taking place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Lahore Qalandars, after winning the toss, have opted to set a target, hoping to take an early advantage in the game.
While cricket fans across the region are eager to watch the action unfold, the matches will be broadcast exclusively through television and live streaming this year. In light of the ongoing regional tensions and the government's decision to conserve energy amid an energy crisis, fans will not be allowed to attend the games in the stadium.
In a related development, the Pakistan Cricket board (PCB) had earlier made adjustments to the PSL 11 schedule. Due to the current regional situation, the PCB prioritized national interests by revising the original plan.
Playing XI:
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Naeem, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafiq, Pervaiz Hussain Iman, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rehman, Ubaid Shah
Hyderabad Kingsmen: Marinus Labuschagne (captain), Saeem Ayub, Osman Khan (wicketkeeper), Kosel Perera, Irfan Niazi, Rizwan Mehmood, Hassan Khan, Hamad Azam, Riley Meredith, Mohammad Ali, Aaqib Javed
