Ball turns pink, groundmen fall: Why netizens are trolling Pakistan Super League

The 2026 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become a hot (and laughable!) topic on social media - but not for memorable cricketing feats.

Instead, fans and online commentators have been relentlessly trolling the tournament, pointing to a string of controversial moments, odd incidents, and organisational shortcomings.

Ball suddenly turns pink mid-match

One of the most talked-about moments came when a standard white cricket ball suddenly turned pink during the match. Yes, you read that right!

🚨 PAISA SHORTAGE LEAGUE !😭🇵🇰

How bad must a country’s situation be when the jerseys in their country’s number one league are losing color, and within just five overs, the ball changes color from white to pink. 🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/mvqPiiW7FY

— lndian Sports Netwrk (@IS_Netwrk29) March 26, 2026

The unexpected colour change, reportedly caused by dye released by a low‑quality team jersey, left viewers amused and confused in equal measure.

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Social media wasted no time, with users joking that even the ball was “trying to stand out” in the tournament.

Even Australia all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne shamed PSL

Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne, who is playing for Hyderabad Kingsmen, shamed PSL over the now-viral “pink ball” incident during the tournament opener.

He was reported saying that it was something he had “never seen before in professional cricket."

His reaction quickly gained traction online, with fans using it to mock the league’s standards and question the quality of equipment.

A windy situation goes viral

In another viral clip, ground staff at Lahore’s stadium were seen struggling against strong winds while handling pitch covers, with some groundmen even being knocked off balance.

🚨WATCH — 🇵🇰 Strong winds in Lahore during PSL blow away pitch covers, even knocking groundsmen off their feet

Bad weather lays bare Pakistan’s poor cricket infrastructure.#PSL #Lahore #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/ULCTUzSarz

— NewsMatrix (@PabanSingh82441) March 31, 2026

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What might have been a routine weather challenge quickly turned into a meme fest, with netizens comparing it to slapstick comedy scenes.

Controversies on and off the field

One of the central flashpoints has been a highly publicised ball‑tampering incident involving Lahore Qalandars’ batter Fakhar Zaman, who was seen on camera allegedly altering the condition of the ball during a match against the Karachi Kings.

The umpires penalised the team with five extra runs, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later slapped Zaman with a two‑match ban for the offence, drawing heavy criticism from fans online who accused players of unfair play and poor sportsmanship.

Netizen reactions: Humour and criticism rolled into one

Social media has been flooded with memes and sarcastic commentary reacting to these incidents.

From tweets joking about the ball‑tampering saga to Reddit threads coining the PSL as a “controversy league” rather than a competitive cricket tournament, netizens indulged in a memefest.

Online communities have sarcastically referred to the event as “Paxtan Super League” and poked fun at the pink ball mishap, showing how easily such moments go viral.

Fans mock crowd presence and minimal marketing

Some fans also criticise broader issues, such as the lack of crowd presence, minimal marketing or low engagement compared with rival leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Threads lament the muted build‑up to the season and suggest that logistical cutbacks, including reducing venues and scrapping an opening ceremony amid economic concerns, have dampened enthusiasm and contributed to the online backlash.