No other international star in recent years has managed to make as many fans in Pakistan than Darren Sammy with the Peshawar Zalmi skipper’s popularity in the country rising with each passing day.
The West Indies all-rounder has been a popular figure in Pakistan ever since he led Peshawar to the 2017 Pakistan Super League (PSL) title final held at Lahore. Sammy was one of the few international players from either side to make themselves available for the final between Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators and bagged the man-of-the-match award.
International cricket in their own backyard has been hard to come by for Pakistan ever since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009 but things have been looking up of late with the advent of the PSL.
As many as eight matches of the ongoing PSL edition are slated to take place on Pakistan soil including the final at Karachi. Many overseas stars have made themselves available for the Pakistan leg of the tournament including AB de Villiers and it is no surprise that Sammy features in that list.
“I feel honoured and I think that it is just the love of the people of Pakistan for me that has come through PSL and it’s a lifetime treasure,” the Peshawar skipper told the official PSL website.
Sammy led Peshawar Zalmi to the 2017 PSL title.
“I am deeply touched by this notion and I will continue to visit Pakistan.
“Zalmi family feels like my own family and the love they have given me has always been overwhelming for me. Pakistan is always welcoming and I appreciate the fact that the people of Pakistan treat me as one of their own.”
The PSL has thrown up plenty of future Pakistan stars ever since its inception in 2014 and Sammy is backing Peshawar Zalmi youngsters Sameen Gul and Ibtisam Sheikh to make their marks in the ongoing edition.
“PSL has provided great emerging cricketers to Pakistan as well as the world. Players who perform in PSL also get picked in other international leagues. Ibtisam Sheikh and Sameen Gul are the players to look-out for in Zalmi,” he said.
Sammy’s men are currently in second spot in the PSL table at the half-way mark with three wins and two losses from their five games so far. They will next take on Multan Sultans at Dubai on February 28.
