Freddie Wilde with the IPL 2025 trophy [Source: X]In a recent development, Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead performance analyst Freddie Wilde will be joining the Hyderabad team for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League as an analyst. The major move by the PSL franchise has been confirmed by owner Fawad Sarwar, who officially announced Wilde’s signing. Notably, Freddie Wilde is known for his prominent career in performance analysis and for his roles as head analyst with Desert Vipers and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. Wilde to be part of Hyderabad’s core group Freddie Wilde will be a new member of the Hyderabad franchise’s core group, with the team set to make its debut in PSL 11 in 2026. The franchise has been acquired by the US-based FKS Group, led by businessman Fawad Sarwar, with a winning bid of PKR 1.75 billion. While the official team name is yet to be announced, reports suggest it is likely to be unveiled on February 11 during the PSL 11 auction. Alongside Freddie Wilde, former Australian pacer and former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has been appointed as head coach of the Hyderabad franchise, as the team aims to build a strong foundation in its debut season. Assistant coach Craig White and fielding coach Grant Bradburn have also been roped in by the Fawad Sarwar-led Hyderabad team. Freddie Wilde’s career from journalist to analyst Freddie Wilde had a successful career in cricket journalism before moving into performance analysis for T20 teams and national boards. He volunteered as a cricket coach with Cricket Without Boundaries and worked as a volunteer with Raleigh International. back in 2013. He was also a freelance journalist for publications such as ESPNCricinfo, Cricbuzz, and CricViz, where he later joined full-time and became head of performance analysis. Wilde’s RCB and England stint In 2020, Freddie Wilde joined Royal Challengers Bangalore full-time as an analyst, and in January 2023, he was appointed as the main white-ball analyst for England’s cricket team. However, his stint with England lasted only two years, as he was removed from the setup along with another analyst following head coach Brendon McCullum’s preference for instinct-based decisions over data-heavy strategies. After leaving the England setup, Freddie joined the Desert Vipers talent pathway as a performance analyst and will now move to the Hyderabad team to explore opportunities in Pakistan, following a successful 2025 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Fawad Sarwar on the introduction of Hyderabad in PSL Fawad Sarwar welcomed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to expand the league by adding a new team and shared his views on the inclusion of Hyderabad. However, he also raised concerns about the PSL salary cap, stating that he personally feels it should be increased. “I've seen some people upset about players leaving their teams after so many years. But that's part of how sports works, when a new team comes in, it's a fresh start. I'm personally happy with PCB's decision, though I think it would've been even better if there were no retentions at all and everything started from zero,” Sarwar said to Pakistani media.All eyes will now be on the Hyderabad franchise, with Sialkot also emerging as one of the new teams. Hyderabad is reportedly set to be named Kingsmen Hyderabad. The PSL 11 edition is expected to undergo a complete overhaul, from the player auction process to a potentially increased salary cap for franchises, raising the possibility of a new champion emerging.
