Former Australia opener David Warner has backed Hyderabad Kingsmen ahead of the Pakistan Super League 2026 final, set to be played against Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, will be chasing their second PSL title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2017. In contrast, the Hyderabad Kingsmen are in their debut season and are aiming for a dream finish with a maiden championship.
Zalmi have been the standout team of the tournament, winning eight of their 10 league matches before a dominant victory over Islamabad United in the Qualifier to secure a place in the final. However, the Marnus Labuschagne-led Kingsmen have shown resilience, reaching the summit clash despite finishing fourth in the league stage.
PSL 2026: David Warner Backs Hyderabad On Social Media
Hours before the final, Warner publicly threw his support behind Hyderabad, citing his connection with compatriot Marnus Labuschagne. Taking to Instagram, Warner wrote: "Good luck to both teams @thepsl. I'm still going for Australia @marnus3. But soft spot for my friend @dahani.99. "*
His mention of Pakistan pacer Shahnawaz Dahani drew a light-hearted response, with Dahani replying: *"Hahaha. Thanks Warnee! Zalmi's will win, we also got Aussie bigman @aaron_hardie. "*-a nod to all-rounder Aaron Hardie in the Zalmi lineup.
Warner himself had a productive PSL 2026 campaign as captain of Karachi Kings. The left-hander scored 256 runs in seven innings at an average of 51.20 and an impressive strike rate of 147.97, registering three half-centuries with a highest score of 89 not out.
The PSL 2026 final promises a compelling contest between a dominant, table-topping Zalmi side and a spirited Hyderabad outfit chasing history in their first season.
