Peshawar Zalmi looking to recruit only the best in PSL

Owner Javed Afridi says Muhammad Amir is on team's radar

Pakistan Super League side Peshawar Zalmi team owner Javed Afridi has set his sights on selecting the best possible talent pool for the team on the eve of the players' draft.

Javed wants the team to include the best local and international talent, and the coaching panel is contemplating on various combinations that can help formulate the eventual 16-member squad.



“The selection process isn’t going to be easy,” Javed told The Express Tribune. “We are eyeing some of the best international and local talent for Peshawar. However, I want to stress that talent from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Peshawar will be preferred since the idea behind this franchise is to promote the players [from Northern Pakistan] who have often been neglected in the past.”



Javed also refused to rule out Peshawar signing left-arm pacer Muhammad Amir, feeling he has served his punishment. "He is on our radar, and we will love to have him in our team," he added.



Javed also felt that his coaching panel is more than capable of developing a team that is going to give the rest of the teams in the competition a real run for their money.

“I have had detailed discussions with my head coach Mohammad Akram and other members of the coaching panel," said Javed. "The Zalmi squad is going to be ideally suited for the demands of the T20 format.”



The Peshawar players will also get other benefits too. "The players that will form our team will enjoy the best possible training facilities and we will also provide them international exposure by getting them contracts in the English county circuit besides the leading T20 leagues around the world.”

Javed has already announced a plan of establishing the Peshawar Zalmi Foundation — a sports and cricket training academy — once the PSL is over. Young talent from K-P will be unearthed through talent hunt schemes with an aim of encouraging them and developing their skill set.



“The announcement of setting up the foundation has already received wide acclaim across K-P," said Javed. "It warms my heart that the people of the province are behind me. I vow to set-up a top class infrastructure on the lines of the Manchester United Foundation.”