Tag: Hyderabad Kingsmen

KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen have won the toss and have opted to field first against Islamabad United in the 21st fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

This will mark the first occasion on which both teams will go head-to-head in the PSL, as Hyderabad Kingsmen will feature in the tournament for the first time.

United are in third spot on the points table with seven points, while Kingsmen have secured one win out of five games and are currently in seventh position.

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Hyderabad Kingsmen XI: Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Asif Mehmood, Mohammad Ali

Islamabad United XI: Devon Conway (wk), Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Faiq, Mark Chapman, Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Chris Green (capt), Richard Gleeson, Mehran Mumtaz, Salman Irshad

READ: Charith Asalanka replaces Parvez Hossain Emon at Lahore Qalandars

KARACHI: Glenn Maxwell has arrived in Pakistan and linked up with Hyderabad Kingsmen ahead of their crucial Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 fixture against Karachi Kings on Saturday.

The franchise confirmed the Australian all-rounder’s arrival through their official social media platforms, sharing a picture of Maxwell settling into his hotel room with a caption welcoming their high-profile addition.

Maxwell, widely regarded as one of the most explosive T20 players in modern cricket, is set to make his PSL debut this season, bringing both experience and firepower to a struggling Kingsmen outfit.

The right-handed batter boasts an impressive T20I record, having scored 2897 runs in 129 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 158.42, including five centuries and 12 half-centuries. His all-round credentials further strengthen his value, with 49 wickets to his name in the format.

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In 503 T20 matches, he has accumulated 10986 runs at a strike rate exceeding 154, alongside 196 wickets, making him one of the most sought-after players in leagues around the world, including the Big Bash League (BBL), Indian Premier League (IPL), The Hundred and the Vitality Blast.

His arrival comes at a critical juncture for the Marnus Labuschagne-led Kingsmen, who are yet to register a win in the ongoing season. The side has endured a tough start, losing all four of their matches and sitting near the bottom of the points table with a negative net run rate.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan opens up after Rawalpindiz fifth straight loss

KARACHI: Babar Azam chose to steer clear of comparisons with Virat Kohli, responding firmly to a question on the subject after his team, Peshawar Zalmi, registered a tense last-ball victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.

Chasing a modest yet tricky 146-run target, Zalmi were pushed to the limit on a challenging surface before eventually getting over the line on the final delivery with four wickets in hand.

Babar played a key role in the chase with a composed 43 off 37 balls but fell at a crucial juncture, leaving his side needing 30 runs from the final five overs.

The post-match press conference, however, shifted focus from the result to an all-too-familiar debate of Babar’s ability to finish games and his frequent comparisons with Kohli.

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The Zalmi skipper appeared unimpressed with the line of questioning and quickly dismissed the comparison.

“Leave that topic. You can end it there,” Babar said, cutting short the question before elaborating on his approach instead.

He emphasised that match situations, rather than comparisons, dictate his style of play, highlighting the importance of reading conditions and building partnerships.

“The main thing is the scenario, what the team requires, what the run rate is, how to play, and how the pitch is behaving. You have to plan your game accordingly and build partnerships for the team,” he explained.

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Babar Azam also pointed out that execution is not always straightforward, especially on difficult surfaces where even well-timed shots may not yield results.

“Sometimes you think it is an easy pitch, but you cannot execute, shots are hit, but not finding the gaps. You try but do not get the runs,” he said.

Reflecting on criticism around his finishing ability, the right-hander insisted that improvement is a gradual process and backed his record in pressure situations.

“In those moments, I remind myself of my strengths and my game plan, my best way of playing. Improvement comes with time; sometimes it takes months. I have finished a lot of matches; you may think I have not, but I have finished many,” he added.

READ: Hassan Khan breaks silence on decision to leave Pakistan for USA

LAHORE: Sahibzada Farhan smashed an unbeaten century to guide Multan Sultans to a commanding six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in a high-scoring encounter of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a daunting 226-run target, the Sultans produced a clinical batting display, reaching the target with eight balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

Farhan was the architect of the remarkable chase, remaining unbeaten on a scintillating 106 off just 57 deliveries. His innings, laced with eight sixes and seven fours, ensured the Sultans stayed ahead throughout the run-chase.

He found solid support at the top from Steve Smith, who scored a fluent 46, while vice-captain Shan Masood added a valuable 29.

Farhan then stitched an unbroken 37-run stand with Arafat Minhas, who played a quickfire cameo of 26 off 11 balls to seal the win in style

Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted an imposing 225-5 after being put into bat, riding on aggressive contributions from their top order.

The opening pair of Saim Ayub and Maaz Sadaqat provided a flying start, adding 59 runs in the first five overs before Peter Siddle broke the stand by dismissing the former for 27.

Sadaqat continued his impressive form, hammering a rapid 62 off 26 deliveries, striking five fours and five sixes, before falling to Mohammad Nawaz.

Veteran Sharjeel Khan then anchored the latter half of the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, ensuring the Kingsmen posted a formidable total.

Notably, this was the third defeat for the Hyderabad Kingsmen, whereas Multan Sultans are sitting at the top of the PSL 11 points table with two victories in as many games.

READ: Rumman Raees urges Babar Azam to consider T20 retirement

LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen have won the toss and decided to bat first against Multan Sultans in the eighth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. 

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LAHORE: A complete team performance led by Abrar Ahmed and backed by crucial half-centuries from Shamyl Hussain and Hasan Nawaz powered Quetta Gladiators to a convincing 40-run victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Defending 175, the Gladiators produced a disciplined bowling display to restrict the Kingsmen to 134-8, handing the debutants their second consecutive defeat of the season.

The chase never truly took off for Hyderabad as early blows derailed their innings.

Saim Ayub (8) and Maaz Sadaqat (0) fell cheaply inside the first eight balls, while Abrar struck twice in the powerplay to remove Usman Khan, leaving the side struggling early.

Captain Marnus Labuschagne attempted to steady the innings with a scratchy 23, but his dismissal by opposing skipper Saud Shakeel further deepened the crisis at 57-5.

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A brief fightback came through a 48-run stand between Irfan Khan Niazi and Hassan Khan, who scored 31 off 19. However, once Ahmed Daniyal broke the partnership, the result was effectively sealed.

Abrar returned to dismiss Irfan for 33, putting the contest beyond Hyderabad, who eventually limped to 134-8.

Abrar finished with three wickets, while Daniyal picked up two. Alzarri Joseph, Usman Tariq and Saud Shakeel chipped in with one apiece.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators recovered from an early wobble to post 174-8, courtesy of a vital partnership between Shamyl and Hasan Nawaz.

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The Gladiators were reduced to 25-2 after early dismissals of Saud Shakeel (4) and Rilee Rossouw (0), both falling to Riley Meredith.

However, Shamyl and Hasan Nawaz combined to rebuild the innings with an 89-run stand.

Shamyl continued his fine form, registering his second consecutive half-century of the tournament with a composed 54 off 41 balls. Hasan Nawaz complemented him well with a fluent 53 off 40 before being run out.

A late cameo from Tom Curran, who struck 31 off 18 deliveries, provided the finishing push as Quetta posted a competitive total.

For Hyderabad, Meredith was the standout performer with three wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana and Akif Javed claimed two wickets each.

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LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie has provided a key update on the availability of star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and emerging talent Maaz Sadaqat for the upcoming games of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Speaking during a media interaction on Saturday, Gillespie confirmed that Maxwell is expected to join the squad later in the tournament, although his exact arrival date remains uncertain.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“We have to wait. He is locked in for the back half of the tournament,” Gillespie said. “The exact date of his arrival, we’re not sure yet. We’re waiting for more information, but hopefully he will join us soon.”

Moreover, Gillespie sounded optimistic about the fitness of young all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat, who missed the opening match against Lahore Qalandars due to injury concerns.

“Maaz has started training today. He’s an important part of our squad,” he said.

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“We’re hopeful he will be available for selection tomorrow [for the match against Quetta Gladiators]. It depends on how he trains and recovers, but if everything goes well, he’ll certainly be in strong consideration.”

Both Hyderabad Kingsmen and Quetta Gladiators head into Sunday’s encounter seeking their first win of the tournament after suffering defeats in their respective opening matches.

READ: Jason Gillespie breaks silence on relationship with PCB

Hyderabad Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie has dismissed any lingering speculation of a fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), insisting that his relationship with the board remains “absolutely fine.”

Gillespie, who stepped down from his role as Pakistan’s Test head coach in December 2024 amid reports of differences with the PCB, commented on his relationship with the board on Saturday.

“Absolutely no problem,” Gillespie said when asked about his equation with the PCB.

“I finished my role as Test coach, and these things happen in coaching. We’ve all moved on; there’s no drama at all. From my end and the PCB’s end, the relationship is perfectly fine.”

The former Australia fast bowler had taken over the red-ball setup in April 2024 but endured a brief tenure amid reports of differences with team management.

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However, he made it clear that any such issues are now firmly in the past.

Shifting focus to the broader cricketing landscape, Jason Gillespie also weighed in on the growing influence of franchise leagues and their impact on international cricket, particularly the longest format.

“I love international cricket, especially Test cricket, and I’m not alone in that,” he said.

“It’s a challenge for administrators to strike the right balance with so many leagues around the world, but I think they’ve done a decent job so far.”

He acknowledged the increasing workload on players, particularly fast bowlers, who are often forced to make tough choices across formats.

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“Fast bowling is a very demanding job. You’re seeing players become more selective, especially with the rise of T20 cricket. It’s difficult to play all three formats throughout the year,” he said.

Gillespie also pointed out a shifting trend in modern cricket, where some players are opting out of certain formats altogether to prolong their careers, underlining the complexity of scheduling in today’s packed calendar.

The Hyderabad Kingsmen coach expressed confidence in his squad, singling out Saim Ayub as a player to watch despite recent inconsistent batting form.

“Saim is a quality player. There will always be ups and downs, but we’re encouraging him to play his natural game, watch the ball and back his strengths. I’m really looking forward to seeing him perform in this tournament,” he said.

READ: MS Dhoni to miss first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to injury

LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars began their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 campaign in commanding fashion, registering a comprehensive 69-run victory over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a daunting 200-run target in their maiden PSL outing, the Kingsmen never found momentum and were eventually bowled out for 130 in their 20 overs.

Captain Marnus Labuschagne top-scored for Hyderabad with a modest 26 off 22 deliveries, while No.9 batter Riley Meredith remained unbeaten on 19.

Apart from them, only Saim Ayub (17), Hammad Azam (10) and Mohammad Ali (10) managed to reach double figures in an otherwise underwhelming chase.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

For Lahore, the bowling effort was evenly shared, with Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza and Ubaid Shah claiming two wickets apiece, while Mustafizur Rahman and skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with one each.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted an imposing 199-6, thanks largely to a fluent half-century from Fakhar Zaman and a strong finish from the middle order.

The hosts made a flying start as Fakhar and Mohammad Naeem stitched together an 84-run opening stand, putting immediate pressure on the Kingsmen bowlers.

Naeem’s brisk 30 off 19 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six, set the tone before he was dismissed by Hassan Khan in the ninth over.

The innings, however, briefly lost momentum as Lahore suffered a mini-collapse, losing Abdullah Shafique to a run-out and then Fakhar shortly after he completed his half-century. The left-hander remained the standout performer, scoring 53 off 39 deliveries, laced with nine fours.

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A steady 37-run stand between Haseebullah Khan and Parvez Hossain Emon helped stabilise the innings before the latter departed for 14.

Lahore then accelerated in the death overs, with Haseebullah combining with Sikandar Raza for a quick 45-run partnership. Raza provided the late impetus with a 10-ball 24, striking two sixes and two fours, while Haseebullah remained unbeaten on a well-crafted 40 off 28 deliveries.

Cameos from Asif Ali (9) and Shaheen Afridi (12 not out) ensured the Qalandars finished just one run short of the 200-mark.

For Hyderabad, Riley Meredith and Hassan Khan picked up two wickets each, while Mohammad Ali accounted for one dismissal.

READ: PSL 11 final squads revealed

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and decided to bat first against Hyderabad Kingsmen in the opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday. 

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