Not Saim Ayub! Hyderabad Kingsmen announce new captain ahead of Pakistan Super League 2026

The Hyderabad Kingsmen have officially announced Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne as their captain for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season. The announcement comes as the franchise prepares for its debut campaign in the expanded eight-team tournament.

Hyderabad Kingsmen are one of the two new teams introduced in PSL 11, following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to expand the league. The side made the announcement through its official social media channels, confirming Labuschagne as the leader for their inaugural season. Interestingly, the appointment came as a surprise to many fans who expected Pakistan’s young star Saim Ayub to take up the leadership role.

However, the franchise opted for Labuschagne’s international experience and leadership qualities despite his limited exposure in the T20 format. The Kingsmen will begin their PSL journey in the tournament opener against defending champions Lahore Qalandars on March 26 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Who is the new Hyderabad Kingsmen captain for Pakistan Super League 2026?

Marnus Labuschagne is widely known as one of Australia’s most reliable batters in longer formats, but his appointment as captain in the PSL has drawn attention due to his limited experience in T20 cricket.

The 34-year-old has played only one T20 International, which came against Pakistan in 2022. In franchise cricket, he has featured sporadically in the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat, playing just a handful of matches in recent seasons.

Despite that, Labuschagne has solid overall numbers in T20 cricket. Across 59 T20 matches, he has scored 1,381 runs and also contributed with the ball, taking 40 wickets with his part-time spin and medium pace.

ALSO SEE: Pakistan Super League 2026 captains announced as teams gear up for new season

Some of his best performances in the format came while playing for Glamorgan in the T20 Blast, including a career-best 93 in 2021 and impressive bowling figures of 5/11 in 2024. Labuschagne will also reunite with former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who has been appointed as the head coach of Hyderabad Kingsmen for PSL 2026.

Hyderabad Kingsmen ownership, auction price, and franchise details

The Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise was created after the Pakistan Super League expanded from six to eight teams for the 2026 season. The franchise rights were secured by the FKS consortium, which reportedly paid PKR 1.75 billion per year to own the team. The ownership group is led by businessman Fawad Sarwar, who also owns the Chicago Kingsmen franchise in USA Minor League Cricket.

The team’s identity, including its name and logo, was unveiled during a launch event held at Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad earlier this year. Hyderabad Kingsmen will represent the city of Hyderabad in Sindh, with Niaz Stadium expected to serve as their home ground.

Hyderabad Kingsmen squad for Pakistan Super League 2026

The Kingsmen have assembled a squad featuring a mix of international stars and promising domestic players for their first PSL campaign.

Hyderabad Kingsmen squad: Saim Ayub, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (Direct Signing), Glenn Maxwell (Direct Signing), Usman Khan, Mohammad Ali, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Ottniel Baartman, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali and Tayyab Arif.

With experienced players such as Glenn Maxwell, Kusal Perera, and Riley Meredith alongside emerging Pakistani talent, Hyderabad Kingsmen will aim to make an immediate impact in their first Pakistan Super League season.