Hyderabad Kingsmen, one of the two debutant franchises in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, are exploring options to fill the void left by South African pacer Ottniel Baartman. The 11th edition of the PSL is set to run from March 26 to May 3.

According to sources, the Kingsmen have approached Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana to join their squad. His availability, however, hinges on securing a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Baartman, who was picked during the historic inaugural PSL auction at Lahore’s Expo Centre on February 11 for PKR 1.1 crore, has withdrawn from the tournament. Neither the player nor the franchise has disclosed the reason for his absence.

Theekshana, meanwhile, offers proven pedigree in the shortest format. The 23-year-old has already represented Sri Lanka in 83 T20Is, bagging 82 wickets at an economy rate of 7.08. His franchise résumé is equally impressive, with stints in the IPL, SA20, ILT20, CPL, and LPL, making him a sought-after asset in global T20 leagues.

The PSL’s landmark 11th edition will feature eight teams, including new entrants Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi, battling across 44 matches in 39 days. In a significant shift, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has streamlined the tournament logistics, announcing that all fixtures will be staged in Karachi and Lahore behind closed doors.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the revised plans after consultations with franchise owners and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Patron-in-Chief of the league. Initially, six cities—Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore—were under consideration as hosts, but the board opted for consolidation to ensure smooth operations.
With Baartman’s exit and Theekshana’s potential arrival, Hyderabad Kingsmen’s debut campaign promises intrigue, as the franchise looks to make its mark in Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.

Kingswood College, Kandy, ended a 68-year wait with a historic triumph at the 119th Battle of the Maroons, defeating Dharmaraja College by 148 runs.

It was their first victory in the annual ‘Big Match’ since 1958, a moment that will be remembered as one of the school’s greatest cricketing achievements.

Kingswood set the tone with a first-innings total of 226 before dismissing Dharmaraja for 160 to secure a 66-run lead. In the second innings, a bold declaration at 248/4 left the Rajans chasing a steep target. The pressure proved too much, and Dharmaraja collapsed for 166, sealing Kingswood’s emphatic win.

The dominant performance brought the T.B. Tennakoon Trophy back to Randles Hill, ending nearly seven decades of anticipation and marking a new chapter in Kingswood’s cricketing legacy.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has vowed to enforce disciplinary measures against players who abandon the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the last minute to join the Indian Premier League (IPL). With the two tournaments overlapping for a second consecutive year, tensions are rising over player commitments.

Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka is the latest to withdraw, leaving Lahore Qalandars to join Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured Sam Curran. Qalandars have named Australia’s Daniel Sams as Shanaka’s replacement. Earlier, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani pulled out of the PSL after signing with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Naqvi made his stance clear:

“We will take action against those players according to the rules. There was a case last year too [Corbin Bosch, banned for one year], and the same thing will happen this time.”

Bosch, a diamond pick for Peshawar Zalmi, had switched late to Mumbai Indians in the IPL last season.

Despite the clash with the IPL, Naqvi insisted the PSL would not be rescheduled:

“Clashing with the IPL is not an issue because if players are going there, we’re getting excellent players coming here as well. We could not afford to postpone the PSL because we have no other window all year.”

Withdrawals and Scheduling Challenges

Several other players have also withdrawn from PSL 2026, including Gudakesh Motie, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ottneil Baartman, and Spencer Johnson, though most cited personal reasons.
The PSL is scheduled to begin on March 26, just two days before the IPL kicks off. Due to an ongoing oil crisis linked to the West Asia conflict, Naqvi confirmed the tournament will be played behind closed doors. Venues have also been reduced from six to two: Lahore and Karachi.