Unusual Ball Change in PSL Opener Due to Hyderabad Kingsmen's Maroon Kit
In a highly unusual incident that captured attention during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) opener, the Hyderabad Kingsmen's maroon-colored kit led to a bizarre ball change, as the white ball became smeared with color from the players' pads. The match, held in Lahore on March 27, 2026, saw the Kingsmen chasing a target against Lahore Qalandars when the ball's transformation from white to a maroon-ish hue forced officials to intervene.
Kit Color Smeared Onto Ball During Play
The issue first arose early in the game when Kingsmen skipper Marnus Labuschagne, an Australian star, raised concerns with the umpires after the second over. He pointed out that the ball had taken on a reddish tint, making it difficult for batters to judge deliveries accurately. By the end of the powerplay, the maroon-ish tinge was visibly apparent even to personnel in the press box, highlighting the extent of the color transfer.
Despite these early warnings, play continued until the 15th over, when the ball was finally changed. Labuschagne commented after the game, as reported by ESPNCricinfo, stating, "I did say to the umpires after the second over, 'What's going on? The ball is all red.' Obviously, it must be from the clothes or something like that. I have not seen anything like that before, but I have seen the ball take colour from the paint of the pads or from something off the bat. I am sure we will sort it out before our next game on Sunday."
Umpires and Players React to the Incident
The Kingsmen skipper confirmed that the umpires had no objections to the team continuing with the same maroon kit for the remainder of the tournament. However, alternative theories emerged regarding the cause of the color change. Lahore Qalandars pacer Haris Rauf suggested that the ball might have picked up color from the stadium seats, which featured a green and white scheme, rather than solely from the kit.
Rauf elaborated, "I am not certain who got the ball changed. We cannot ascertain whether it was because of the kit. It may well have been because of the seats, as the ball flew out of the ground quite a few times. As long as the batters continued to see the ball clearly, they batted. They may have changed it when it got difficult to pick. Had I gone to the crease to bat, I would have had it changed first ball."
Match Highlights and Outcome
In the game itself, Lahore Qalandars opted to bat first, posting a competitive total of 199/6 in their 20 overs. Key contributions came from Fakhar Zaman, who scored 53 runs off 39 balls, Haseebullah Khan with 40 off 28 balls, and Sikandar Raza adding a quick 24 off 10 balls. For the Kingsmen, Hassan Khan and Riley Meredith were the standout bowlers, each taking two wickets.
During the chase, the Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 130 in 20 overs, with skipper Marnus Labuschagne top-scoring at 26 runs off 22 balls. Lahore Qalandars' bowling attack, led by Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, proved too strong, securing a convincing victory. After the match, the Kingsmen congratulated their opponents on "winning their first pink-ball game," adding a touch of sportsmanship to the unusual proceedings.
This incident marks one of the most peculiar ball changes in recent cricket history, raising questions about kit materials and their impact on gameplay in high-stakes tournaments like the PSL.
