LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen Marnus Labuschagne admitted that it was a roller-coaster ride for him and his team into the eliminator.
Talking to media after Hyderabad Kingsmen’s emphatic victory in the first eliminator of HBL Pakistan Super League 11, Labuschagne spoke at length about the team’s bumpy campaign, the role of coaching staff, and the resurgence of Labuschagne admitted that the team’s early struggles weighed heavily on him as captain. “It’s a big roller coaster for us. We’ve won big, we’ve lost big. But the confidence we’ve now been able to bring over the last six games – five wins from six – is really impressive and a credit to the group,” he said.
He emphasised that the turnaround was built on belief and process, not panic. Even during the losing streak, the squad reminded themselves they were “good enough to be here” and focused on sticking to their plans rather than being consumed by emotion.
Labuschagne admitted it was difficult to capture the emotions of the moment, describing the win as “really special” for the franchise, owners, players, and support staff. “We put a lot of work and time into making sure we came prepared today. We played really well especially with the bat and tried to come with a few new ideas and a little bit of prep. It is nice that it came off today,” he said. The Australian emphasized the importance of treating each game with respect, particularly after Hyderabad’s crushing defeat to Islamabad United earlier in the tournament. “We actually addressed it today because I felt when we won that amazing game against Multan we were so high. We probably just expected to go and do the same thing the next game. That is obviously the reason we bowled out for 80,” Labuschagne explained.
Labuschagne highlighted the importance of supporting players through lean patches, citing Usman Khan and Saim Ayub as examples. “Players don’t lose their ability, they lose confidence. Confidence creates performances,” he explained. He praised Usman for recognizing his slump and trusting the team to carry him until he rediscovered form. That patience paid off, with Usman now scoring freely and reading the game better.
On Saim, Labuschagne said his recent innings could spark a turnaround: “He’s no longer that young kid. He’s an experienced player with many facets to his game. If he wins us the final, no one will remember the earlier struggles.”
Labuschagne also praised Hyderabad’s pace attack, which has been instrumental in their resurgence. “It is just great when you have guys in whom you can put your faith. In T20 cricket, you are always going to have a bad over and be put under pressure. But it doesn’t matter because you can just trust them and communicate and they trust that process,” he said.
Labuschagne was effusive about young pacer Hunain Shah, who has emerged as a key weapon. “His death bowling, his consistency through the middle – I love his character and personality. It’s been really nice to get to know him and work out the best way to navigate different scenarios,” he said, noting that Hunain’s rise from bench player to eliminator hero epitomized Hyderabad’s depth.
