LAHORE: Karachi Kings captain David Warner has expressed strong confidence in his side’s preparations for the HBL Pakistan Super League season 11, which begins on Thursday Speaking at the pre-tournament captains’ press conference in Lahore, Warner emphasized the importance of continuity while welcoming the new additions to the squad.
Warner praised the inclusion of Adam Zampa and Salman Ali Agha, noting that their presence adds depth and balance to the team. “It’s always great to have players like Adam Zampa and Salman Ali Agha in our group. For us, it’s about trying to replicate what we did well last year and then improve on areas where we fell short. Hopefully, we can do better this season and go beyond the playoffs,” he said.
The Kings had an encouraging campaign in PSL 10, with Warner leading from the front, scoring 368 runs in 11 innings at an average of 33.45 and a strike rate of 153.97. Reflecting on the squad assembled during the new auction system, Warner expressed satisfaction: “We’ve got a really good group of players, and I think we did a great job at the auction. We’re ready to compete against the best teams.”
Addressing questions about his fitness at the age of 39, Warner dismissed concerns, underlining his commitment to peak conditioning. “Look, at 39, I’m extremely fit, probably fitter than most people my age playing this game. It’s all about maintaining a healthy diet, training hard, and putting in the work on the field. Hopefully, I can score good runs again and put the team in strong positions.”
This season marks a historic expansion to eight franchises, with Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz joining the competition. Matches will be staged exclusively in Lahore and Karachi from March 26 to May 3, played behind closed doors but enhanced with new broadcast innovations to engage fans worldwide.
