Australia’s batter Marnus Labuschagne has been named captain of Hyderabad Kingsmen, the newly formed franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), ahead of its season 11, it was reported on Tuesday.
Labuschagne becomes the third Australian to be appointed captain of a PSL side this year, after David Warner for the Karachi Kings and Ashton Turner for Multan Sultans.
He will lead the Kingsmen against Lahore Qalandars in the opening game of the PSL, which will run from March 26 to May 3.
Marnus Labuschagne, who was signed directly by the franchise on February 5 for Rs. 5.88 crore, is eager to join the Kingsmen setup and repay the confidence shown by the team and its supporters.
He also expressed hope that the side can mount a title challenge in their first PSL campaign.
The Kingsmen have been active in the market as they build a squad for the expanded eight-team season.
Earlier, the franchise confirmed the signing of Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, one of the most established names in T20 cricket.
Interestingly, Labuschagne has never captained any T20 side previously and is not a regular on the T20 circuit.
He has played just one T20I, and only four T20 matches since the end of July 2024, all of them for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
While primarily a top-order batter, he can only bowl off spin or medium pace, and has 40 wickets in 59 T20s.
Kingsmen, one of two new entrants into the PSL, were the last side to officially announce a captain.
There wasn’t a standout choice within the roster, with limited captaincy pedigree at the T20 level.
Glenn Maxwell, Kusal Perera, and Saim Ayub were among the other high-profile signings, but Labuschagne – the first player confirmed to the team by way of direct signing – ended up getting the leadership role.
Labuschagne will link up with fellow Australian Jason Gillespie, who was appointed the franchise’s head coach, having previously served as Pakistan’s head coach in Test cricket.
Another former Pakistan coach is also part of the Kingsmen’s coaching staff, with Grant Bradburn appointed fielding coach.
