![Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique [Source: @rehmanpowerplay/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1774539530339_FakharZamanandAbdullahShafique.jpg?type=hq)
Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique [Source: @rehmanpowerplay/x]
The PSL 2026 got off to a cracking start in Lahore with a match between Lahore Qalandars and tournament debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen on Thursday, March 26. Qalandars opener and senior Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman orchestrated his team’s early batting fury with a sequence of some belligerent boundaries in the powerplay overs.
The attacking left-hander even shared a scorching 84-run opening partnership with Mohammad Naeem as Lahore Qalandars mounted over Kingsmen’s misery early in the game. However, just when the momentum seemed firmly in Lahore’s grasp, Fakhar Zaman was involved in an untimely mix-up that briefly halted their charge.
Fakhar Zaman sacrifices teammate as Lahore Qalandars lose early edge
Shortly after the dismissal of Lahore Qalandars’ well-set opener Mohammad Naeem to Hassan Khan in the ninth over of the opening PSL 2026 match, Hyderabad Kingsmen skipper Marnus Labuschagne employed himself into the bowling attack around the halfway stage of the innings.
In the final ball of his opening over, Labuschagne struck Fakhar Zaman on the pad before the ball rolled towards the backward point region. Fakhar wandered down the track in the hope of a single, before a reluctant Abdullah Shafique also took off for the run.
As it happened, Shafique ended up falling yards short of his crease, after a Hammad Azam throw helped wicketkeeper Usman Khan dislodge the bails at the striker’s end. Shafique, who was batting at four from five balls at the time, walked towards the dugout in visible disgust as Fakhar Zaman remained rooted in silence.
To make matters worse, Fakhar Zaman also failed to add a run beyond his 53-run knock as the blistering left-hander was dismissed by Hassan Khan a couple of deliveries later in the following over. Fakhar eventually walked back to the dugout after having struck 10 elegant boundaries in his 39-ball innings.
His dismissal also helped the Hyderabad Kingsmen claw back into the game, taking three wickets at an expense of just 10 runs as the Qalandars slipped from 84-0 to 94-3 in the space of 12 balls.
Run-out lapses a familiar script with Pakistan cricket
Incidentally, this was not the first such run-out lapse involving Pakistan cricket. For years, such moments of miscommunication and hesitation have repeatedly cost Pakistan players crucial momentum at key junctures.
Even stalwarts like Inzamam-ul-Haq and several other Pakistan cricketers have found themselves entangled in similarly avoidable and hilarious mix-ups.
Haseebullah Khan, Sikandar Raza and Shaheen blaze Qalandars to 199
Even though Fakhar Zaman’s mix-up and his subsequent dismissal paved way for a Hyderabad Kingsmen fightback, the Lahore Qalandars still ended up mounting a formidable total of 199-6 in 20 overs batting first.
Wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan clubbed 40 runs off just 28 balls with three boundaries and a six. Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza also clattered two fours and two sixes in his 22-ball 45 in the slog overs. Captain Shaheen Afridi arrived in the final over and launched consecutive huge sixes off Kingsmen paceman Mohammad Ai.
Also Read- "White Turned Pink": PSL Ball Controversy Leaves Fans Confused During LAH Vs HYK
