New Delhi: Pakistan were left embarrassed after the white ball changed its colour to pink during the opening game of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 on Thursday. Played behind closed doors, PSL started off with a game between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore and all the fans witnessed something rare.
Fans took to social media to troll Pakistan cricket board and Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise after they were invited to bowl first in the first game of the season. At the ancient Gaddafi Stadium, the Hyderabad bowlers appeared to use their jerseys to maintain the ball’s shine, and it is believed the colour changed from there, turning pinkish.
Basically, the maroon dye from Hyderabad’s kit rubbed off on the white ball turning it pink which left the fans confused as they mocked the franchise over the quality of their jerseys. Many fans on social media jokingly posted that they had witnessed the first-ever pink-ball T20 match while others pointed fingers at the league’s standard.
Fans mock Pakistan
Peak Pakistan Super League standards 😭
During the very first match of PSL 11, the ball literally turned pink every time Hyderabad Kingsmen players rubbed it on their kit.
Did they get knockoff kits instead of authentic ones?
International league or gully-level experiment? 🤡 pic.twitter.com/Beq5zhmSkb
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) March 26, 2026
😂 GEMS OF PAKISTAN 😂
During the opening match of PSL 2026, the ball turned pink every time a Hyderabad Kingsmen player rubbed it on their kit 😆 That’s the level of poor PSL and fans around the world are laughing at them 😅
Gully-level PSL going-on 🤡 pic.twitter.com/lkG2BEGt3r
— Fan Account Richard Kettlebourogh (@RichKettle07) March 26, 2026
Maryam ne pink pehna tha isiliyai ball bhi pink karwa di😎😎😎😭 pic.twitter.com/tzCqBIK8HO
— 〽️inahil (@minahilzs) March 26, 2026
Meanwhile, after being asked to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted 199 for six on back of Fakhar Zaman’s half-century (53 off 39 balls). Later, Haseebullah Khan scored a quick 40-run knock, while Sikandar Raza’s quickfire 24 helped Lahore finish on a high. For Hyderabad, Hassan Khan and Riley Meredith picked up two wickets each.
In reply, Hyderabad were bundled out for … as Lahore won the match by … runs starting their campaign on a high.