LAHORE – 1 April 2026: Australian spin wizard Adam Zampa has hit the ground running in his debut HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, praising the high standard of competition and revealing why he chose the tournament over a return to the IPL.
Speaking on the ARY Podcast, the Karachi Kings leg-spinner shared that the decision to join the HBL PSL was partly due to the gruelling schedule and financial structure of other leagues.
“To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, you just don’t get the money that is there for other skill sets,” Zampa remarked, “For the amount of time that the IPL takes, it just didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me… then PSL was on the radar.”
Zampa, who has already made an impact with his clinical spells, noted that the bowling depth in Pakistan is what sets the league apart. “It’s almost an international quality bowling attack,” he said, specifically referencing the Lahore Qalandars’ lineup.
Reflecting on Australia’s recent global dominance, Zampa touched upon the famous “Australian Mindset” that saw them clinch the 2023 ODI World Cup.
He recalled the tense atmosphere during Glenn Maxwell’s historic double-century against Afghanistan when the team was reeling at 91-7.
“The conversation was definitely ‘the game looks like it’s lost, let’s get to here [to protect net run rate],'” Zampa admitted.
He described the dressing room as the “funniest” he’s ever been in as they watched Maxwell’s miracle unfold: “We were all laughing about… there’s another six… it just kept going and going.”
Despite being compared to the late Shane Warne, Zampa remains humble about his legacy. “I never thought of myself as being behind Shane Warne… he’s the best of all time,” Zampa stated.
“My niche is white-ball cricket… I feel valued by my teammates, and I’m made to feel really important.”
Off the field, Adam Zampa described himself as “slightly introverted” and a “coffee lover” who prefers the quiet of his rural property over city life. As for his future in Pakistan, the spinner teased a potential return next season, even suggesting he might bring a few more “Aussie mates” along for the ride.
Watch the full interview here:
