Marnus Labuschagne Mohsin Naqvi. Image Credits: XAustralia's star batter Marnus Labuschagne has been officially signed by the new Pakistan Super League franchise Hyderabad as a direct signing ahead of the league’s historic players auction scheduled for February 11.The announcement was made on Friday through the franchise’s official social media platform, where an animated poster of the 31-year-old was shared.Hyderabad rope in Marnus Labuschagne as direct signing for PSLMarnus Labuschagne's signing marks a great deal for Hyderabad, who will be making their debut in the PSL this season. It is important to note that the the franchise did not disclose the financial details of the contract.This will be Labuschagne’s first appearance in the PSL. Despite being a consistent batter in Test and ODI cricket over the past few years, he has limited exposure to T20 cricket.He has played only one T20I for Australia, which came against Pakistan in 2022, and his franchise experience is limited to the Big Bash League in Australia and Vitality Blast.Taking a look at Labuschagne’s T20 record, he has scored 1,381 runs in 59 matches at an average of 26.55 and a strike-rate of 126.81, including eight half-centuries.The Australian star players have also contributed with the ball in T20s, he has played 59 matches and bagged 40 wickets at an economy rate of 8.74.Other notable names retained by HyderabadHyderabad: Saim Ayub (Platinum), Usman Khan (Diamond), Maaz Sadaqat (Emerging) and Akif Javed (Gold)Marnus Labuschagne to join PSL 11 lateHowever, while Marnus Labuschagne has confirmed his commitment to the PSL, his full availability for the tournament remains uncertain.According to a recent report by CodeSports, the Australian batter will delay his arrival in Pakistan until Queensland's Sheffield Shield season concludes.Labuschagne has made it clear that he intends to play the Shield final if Queensland qualify, even though it overlaps with the opening days of the PSL. The Sheffield Shield final is scheduled to begin on March 26.His decision has been widely praised among the fans, as it highlights his strong commitment to domestic cricket at a time when many centrally contracted players choose franchise leagues.Will Marnus Labuschagne play full PSL?Adding to the uncertainty, Labuschagne has also revealed that he is currently managing a thumb injury involving bone, tendon, and ligament damage. The injury was sustained after being struck while batting during the fifth Test against England. While he continues to play through the issue, questions remain about whether it could affect his participation throughout the PSL season.Meanwhile, the upcoming PSL 11 auction on February 11 will be a landmark event, as it will be the league’s first-ever full auction system. Hyderabad are expected to continue strengthening their squad as they prepare for its inaugural campaign.Whether Labuschagne plays the full tournament or joins later, his signing alone has already made headlines. For Hyderabad, it is a clear signal that they are building their team around proven match winners for the upcoming season.
