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LAHORE: Pakistan’s flagship Twenty20 competition, the Pakistan Super League, begins its 11th edition on Thursday with defending champions Lahore Qalandars facing debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen, as the tournament expands to eight teams and introduces new financial incentives.
The opening match at Gaddafi Stadium will see Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Qalandars launch their title defence against a Kingsmen side led by Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne.
The competition, officially known as the HBL PSL, will run until May 3, with matches split evenly between Lahore and Karachi. A total of 44 fixtures will be played across Gaddafi Stadium and National Bank Stadium.
This year marks a “new era” for the league, with two new franchises — Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz — joining the tournament following team auctions earlier in 2026. The expanded format divides the eight teams into two groups, each playing 10 matches before playoffs determine the finalists.
“The focus is on playing good cricket and giving our best to defend the title,” Afridi told reporters ahead of the tournament, highlighting preparations at the team’s high-performance centre.
Captains across the league emphasized the PSL’s role in developing domestic talent. Shadab Khan, skipper of Islamabad United, said the competition had become a key pathway for young players to perform under pressure.
The league has also introduced new prize structures for franchises, including $500,000 for the winning team, $300,000 for runners-up, and a separate $200,000 award recognizing player development efforts — a first in PSL history. Players in the title-winning squad will also share a $500,000 prize pool.
Among individual records, Babar Azam remains the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 3,792 runs, while bowlers Hasan Ali and Afridi headline the विकेट charts with more than 120 wickets each.
Team-wise, Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars are the most successful franchises with three titles apiece, while Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings have each lifted the trophy once.
Kingsmen captain Labuschagne said his side would focus on “empowering players” as they adapt to the league, while Karachi Kings skipper David Warner highlighted the importance of experience in navigating the competition.
The PSL, now in its second decade, has grown into one of the most prominent T20 leagues globally, with organizers and players alike pointing to its contribution to Pakistan’s cricketing depth and international competitiveness
