Hyderabad Kingsmen's Strongest XI For PSL 2026- Labuschagne to Lead Saim Ayub and Maxwell

Marnus Labuschagne will lead Hyderabad Kingsmen [Source: X]

The Pakistan Super League is set to embark on a new era after two new teams were introduced to make it an eight-team competition from 2026 onwards.

One of the two new teams is Hyderabad Kingsmen, who were bought by the FKS Group for PKR 1.75 billion ahead of PSL 11. Prior to the player auction, they acquired the services of the former world number 1 Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne and went on to name him the captain of the team.

In addition to Labuschagne, they retained star all-rounder, Saim Ayub, alongside Usman Khan, Maaz Sadaqat and Akif Javed to the squad. Further, they added some proven overseas stars like Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredith, Kusal Perera and Ottneil Baartman from the auction. Baartman, however, has pulled out of the PSL just weeks ahead of the start.

As they start the season on Day 1 of PSL 11 against the Lahore Qalandars, we take a look at their best playing XI for the game.

Hyderabad Kingsmen's Strongest XI For PSL 2026

Top Order- Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c)

Allrounder and star player, Saim Ayub, will lead the Hyderabad Kingsmen batting line-up with loads of experience behind him at just 23. Despite a substandard ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, he remains central to Hyderabad’s chances to do well in PSL 11. He has played 146 T20Is and scored 3425 runs at a strike rate of 140.

The recent Pakistan debutant, who played a fiery knock against Bangladesh in the ODI series, Maaz Sadaqat, is Ayub’s competition for the opening spot in the Pakistan side, but will play alongside him for Hyderabad. The 20-year-old has a T20 strike rate of 142.19 in 32 innings, scoring 947 runs.

Both openers can chip in with the ball as well. Notably, Ayub was recently also the number 1 T20I all-rounder with his off-break bowling. Sadaqat will bowl left-arm orthodox as per the team’s need.

At number 3 will be captain Marnus Labuschagne, who is a seasoned international star trusted with the leadership role, despite having played only one T20I for the Aussies yet. In 59 T20s, he strikes at 126.81 for his 1381 runs. Additionally, he can bowl leg-break and medium pace as well. He will have an opportunity to improve his T20 numbers in PSL 11.

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Middle Order- Usman Khan (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan

The starting wicket-keeper of the senior Pakistan side, Usman Khan, will bat at number 4 for the Kingsmen with a formidable T20 experience, playing across different leagues. In PSL, he has previously represented Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators, striking at over 155 for 960 runs.

(Usman Khan's stats in PSL)

Yet another Australian white-ball star, Glenn Maxwell, will be slotted at number 5, with an exceptional record in T20 cricket. He has played over 500 games and scored close to 11000 runs so far. Despite the dip in his form, he will be one of the most valuable additions to the Hyderabad Kingsmen team in their early years.

The final two players in the top-7 will be the 23-year-old Irfan Khan and Hassan Khan. Irfan previously played for Karachi Kings and has a T20 strike rate of 135.04 in the middle-order. Hassan Khan, who is a left-arm orthodox bowler as well, strikes at 140 down the order after playing 104 T20 games.

Bowler- Asif Mehmood, Akif Javed, Muhammad Ali, Riley Meredith

The bowling line-up will begin with the local talent Asif Mehmood, who is a right-arm quick, who could turn out as their trump card for Hyderabad Kingsmen as an unknown entity. Apart from his pace bowling, he can add a few boundaries in case of need as well.

One of their strike pacers will be Akif Javed, who will bowl left-arm quick in the powerplay. He has played for four other franchises previously, picking 22 wickets in 18 PSL outings. He has 94 T20 wickets in 77 innings played.

One of the two frontline pacers will be Mohammad Ali, who has an exceptional strike rate of 13.5 with an economy rate of just over 8 in 44 T20 matches. He has picked up 68 wickets in 44 innings. He is also an experienced PSL player with two teams on his resume.

Riley Meredith will finish the bowling attack as the leader of their bowling attack after an exceptional year of T20 cricket. Since January 2025, he has picked up a whopping 70 wickets in just 43 matches. Hyderabad Kingsmen’s fate in PSL 11 will heavily rely on how the former Islamabad United pacer does in this season.

(Riley Meredith in T20s since January 2025)

Hyderabad Kingsmen Strongest XI For PSL 2026- Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Usman Khan (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Asif Mehmood, Akif Javed, Muhammad Ali, Riley Meredith.

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