PSL's poor quality shocks Labuschagne after ball turns red due to jersey dye

Pakistan Super League 2026: Marnus Labuschagne was left shocked after the ball turned red due to poor-quality jersey dye in the season opener between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, leaving players and fans stunned.

In Short

• Hyderabad Kingsmen's maroon kit dye-stained ball, causing visibility issues
• Labuschagne raised concern with the umpires after the season opener
• Hyderabad Kingsmen were trolled after the ball turned pink in PSL opener

Marnus Labuschagne was left shocked as the 2026 edition of the Pakistan Super League got underway on Thursday, March 26, with the tournament's opening match throwing up an unexpected controversy. The season-opening clash between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium saw the white ball gradually change colour during the first innings, turning pink and later deep red, leaving players and fans stunned.

What should have been a routine start to the season instead turned into what many described as a "pink-ball contest," with television cameras clearly capturing the ball's colour change as the innings progressed. The issue appeared to come from a common practice in limited-overs cricket, where fielders rub the ball against their jerseys to maintain shine. However, in this case, the maroon dye from Hyderabad Kingsmen's kit began to come off onto the white ball.

As the Lahore Qalandars innings gathered pace, the discolouration became more noticeable. What began as a faint pink tinge soon deepened, raising concerns about visibility under lights and the overall fairness of playing conditions. The unusual nature of the incident also led to immediate attention on the field.

Labuschagne, who is leading Hyderabad Kingsmen this season, was quick to raise the issue with the umpires. The Australian all-rounder was seen speaking to them early in the innings after noticing the change in colour.

Speaking after the match, Labuschagne said he had never seen anything like it before in professional cricket.

"I did say to the umpires after the second over, 'What's going on? The ball is red.' It must be from the clothes or something like that. I haven't seen anything like that," Labuschagne said at the post-match press conference.

He added that while small amounts of colour coming off bats or pads is not unheard of, this was different.

"I have seen a few times that there's something on someone's bat and it comes onto the ball, or it hits the pad and takes a bit of the paint off the pad, but I have never seen the clothes, so I am sure they will sort it out in the next few games," he said.

The incident quickly caught the attention of fans on social media, with Hyderabad Kingsmen facing criticism as clips and images of the discoloured ball went viral. For a tournament that prides itself on professionalism and global reach, the episode raised questions about quality control.

Despite the controversy, Lahore Qalandars delivered a strong performance. Led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Lahore posted 199/4 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first.

Fakhar Zaman scored 53 at the top of the order, while Haseebullah Khan added an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls to push the total past 190.

Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled in reply and never looked in control of the chase. Ubaid Shah, Sikandar Raza and Haris Rauf took two wickets each to break the back of the innings.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mustafizur Rahman picked up one wicket each as Hyderabad were bowled out for 130 in 20 overs, handing Lahore a 69-run win.

The controversy comes at a time when the PSL is already dealing with difficult conditions. Matches in the 2026 season are being played behind closed doors due to the West Asia crisis, affecting the atmosphere around the tournament. The competition has also been limited to two venues, Lahore and Karachi.

The league has also seen several overseas players opt out or move to the Indian Premier League, with many signing as replacements ahead of the upcoming season.

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