LAHORE: On the eve of the PSL 11 Final, Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne described his team’s extraordinary journey as a story of belief, confidence, and resilience.
Labuschagne acknowledged Peshawar Zalmi’s dominance throughout the tournament, noting that Hyderabad had already faced them once in a tight contest. “We were defending 14 in the last over and they just got over the line. For us, it’s all about controlling ourselves, sticking to our processes and plans, and the rest will take care of itself,” he said.
The Kingsmen’s mantra, according to their captain, has been simple: belief and confidence. “They’re two really big factors in any team. When you can create that in a team, you can find the best in players. That’s what we’ve done. Some guys weren’t performing as well as they would have liked, but instilling confidence and belief turned things around and started our momentum,” Labuschagne explained.
He admitted that the team’s rollercoaster ride—losing their first four matches before stringing together wins to reach the final—was a test of character. “Nothing good comes easy. Even last night against Islamabad, it looked like we were going to win comfortably, then suddenly it looked over. But Hunain Shah stepped up and defended six runs in the last over. That belief, instilled not only by me and the coaches but also by the ownership, has been crucial,” he said.
Labuschagne described Hyderabad as a “team of miracles,” recalling key moments such as their massive win against Rawalpindi to sneak into the playoffs, their victory over Multan, and the dramatic finish against Islamabad United. “It’s been a special tournament for us. Hopefully tomorrow night we can top off an unbelievable campaign by holding the trophy,” he added.
Asked about the so-called “Aussie mindset” that has been credited for Hyderabad’s resilience, Labuschagne agreed that never losing hope and continuing to fight was central to their approach. “There was doubt after four losses, but the key was instilling confidence and belief in our players. Once we nailed the right combinations, we created consistency,” he said.
Labuschagne also touched on the advantage of playing their last two matches in Lahore, suggesting it gave them familiarity with the conditions compared to Zalmi, who played their Qualifier in Karachi. “It’s certainly a little benefit that we’ve played here recently and built momentum,” he noted.
On his own development, Labuschagne said the PSL had given him a valuable opportunity to grow as a T20 player and leader. “I’ve always wanted to play more T20 cricket, but the Australian schedule has been packed with Tests and ODIs. This was a great chance to develop my skills and leadership. I’ve enjoyed every moment, and hopefully tomorrow I can play well and get the team into a position to win the final,” he said.
