Hyderabad Kingsmen - (Source: X.com)
On Thursday, March 26, the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will kickstart in Lahore when newly added side Hyderabad Kingsmen take on the hosts Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium. The game will be played behind closed doors with no fans allowed in the stadium.
The PCB had big plans for the 11th edition, but the league had to be scaled down due to the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. Rising fuel prices limited the tournament to just two cities. Nonetheless, fans are excited for the new teams, particularly Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Lahore Qalandars Preview
Marnus Labuschagne will lead the side, and in the latest edition, they have also signed Maheesh Theekshana, who will play for the first time in PSL. Talking about the squad, Hassan Khan will serve as Labuschagne’s deputy.
Hyderabad Kingsmen have the likes of Maaz Sadaqat, Glenn Maxwell, Riley Meredit and Saim Ayub. Meanwhile, this article will shed light on Hyderabad Kingsmen’s predicted playing XI for their opening match against Lahore Qalandars.
Hyderabad Kingsmen Likely Playing XI vs Lahore Qalandars- Match 1
Openers and Top Order (Saim Ayub, Sharjeel Khan, Usman Khan, Marnus Labuschagne)
For Hyderabad Kingsmen, Saim Ayub will open the innings. The Pakistan opener also opens for the national team and has been a strong performer in the PSL. He will also chip in with four overs of spin.
Sharjeel Khan is expected to be Saim Ayub's opening partner. Notably, Maaz Sadaqat would have opened the innings but due to Glenn Maxwell's unavailability, the youngster is expected to bat in the middle-order to fill the gap.
Usman Khan will bat at No.3, a position he did well last season. Talking about PSL 2025's performance, he scored 213 runs in eight innings, at a strike-rate of 147.92.
Also Read: PSL 2026 Players List: All Injuries, Withdrawals, And Replacements
Skipper Marnus Labuschagne will come to bat at No.4, where he can either anchor or play aggressively according to the situation.
Middle Order and All Rounders (Maaz Sadaqat, Kusal Perera, Haasan Khan)
In the middle-order, Hyderabad Kingsmen will miss Glenn Maxwell, who will miss the first few games due to the current geo-political tensions in West Asia. The Australia all-rounder has not arrived in Pakistan so far.
Maaz Sadaqat will bat at No.5, a position he played at during PSL 2025. Last year, the 20-year-old scored 79 runs in three innings, at a strike-rate of 168.09. Kusal Perera is most-likely to keep wickets for Hyderabad Kingsmen. However, the Labuschagne-led side will miss Glenn Maxwell.
Bowlers (Maheesh Theekshana, Ahmed Hussain, Afiq Javed, Riley Meridith)
Hyderabad are sweating hard in the bowling department. They lack a solid Pakistani player in the bowling. Nonetheless, Afiq Javed and Ahmed Hussain are most likely to feature in the opening game.
Further, they will be assisted by Maheesh Theekshana, who is all set for his maiden PSL stint. Furether, Riley Meridith will lead the pace attack for Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Hyderabad Kingsmen Predicted Playing XI vs Lahore Qalandars - Match 1, PSL 2026
1. Saim Ayub
2. Sharjeel Khan
3. Usman Khan
4. Marnus Labuschagne
5. Maaz Sadaqat
6. Kusal Perera (WK)
7. Haasan Khan
8. Maheesh Theekshana
9. Ahmed Hussain
10. Afiq Javed
11. Riley Meridith
Also Read: No Haris Rauf For PSL 2026 Opener? Lahore Qalandars Predicted Playing XI vs Hyderabad Kingsmen
