Peshawar Zalmi The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) carries the burden of expectations of millions of fans for whom cricket has become a source of identity, pride and joy.
The Pashto word zalmi means youth, which has a deep meaning in the rich culture of the region. It is also included in their logo, with the turban appearing high as an important symbol.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) The thinking of Javed Afridi, the owner of the franchise, was clear, which aims to bring back happiness to the people of Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Javed Afridi Says ‘Owning a cricket team, especially Peshawar Zalmi, is beyond the scope of a business venture for me. What mattered to me was unwavering love for the game and sincere effort and passion.’
Peshawar Zalmi started their HBLPSL journey in a brilliant way as the team led by Shahid Afridi reached the playoffs in the inaugural season played in 2016.
Darren Sammy, the West Indian captain and T20 World Cup champion, was part of Zalmi at that time. Since then, Darren Sammy has been strongly associated with the franchise, matching Peshawar Zalmi’s enthusiasm for the return of international cricket to Pakistan.
Zalmi won the final of the second edition of the league which was played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. With Shahid Afridi unavailable due to injury, Darren Sammy led Peshawar to a 58-run victory over Quetta Gladiators.
This title was not only a victory for Peshawar Zalmi, but it came as a victory that reverberated throughout the city of Peshawar and its streets and in the hearts of its people.
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Javed Afridi says ‘Peshawar, like many regions, was facing challenges with a significant lack of recreational opportunities for its residents. The significance of bringing home the title went beyond the realm of mere cricketing success. It became a unifying force that resonated throughout the Pashtun community and beyond.
‘Global Zalmi, is our main initiative. With 32 registered cricket clubs around the world, this dynamic expression of our commitment to the global development of cricket is testament to our dedication. As a future plan we plan to expand this network to all continents.’
In the following season, Zalmi’s excellent form continued and took them to their second consecutive final. The team finished as runners-up against Islamabad United, who won their second title.
In 2019, Peshawar Zalmi played their third consecutive final. This time he was defeated by Quetta Gladiators.
Zalmi finished fourth in the fifth edition of the league which was played in 2020 and was affected by Covid-19. The following year they made a comeback and qualified for their fourth final although Multan Sultans eventually lifted the title.
A different Peshawar Zalmi emerged in the seventh edition of PSL with Darren Sammy as the head coach. The team finished third in the tournament with six wins.
The following year, in the presence of Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi made it to the playoffs where they lost to defending champions Lahore Qalandars.
Peshawar Zalmi’s record in the last eight editions of the PSL is impressive as they have appeared in four finals and reached at least the playoffs on every other occasion.
She wants to continue to excel in the coming seasons, while also looking forward to playing on her home turf one day.
Javed Afridi said, “That is what we have in mind to continue to win the title, not only as a testament to our cricketing prowess but also as a promise to the people of Peshawar to see their favorite players on their home ground.” Can’t wait to see it in action.’
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2024-08-02 05:32:10
