Zalmis Unite: Fans get behind home team ahead of today’s clash

Also great support for Quetta Gladiators in the provincial capital


Saba Rani February 18, 2016
Group photo of the Peshawar Zalmi team. PHOTO COURTESY: PSL FACEBOOK PAGE

PESHAWAR: Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators will face off in an intense battle on Friday (today) in which both teams will be vying for a definite position in the final of the inaugural edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Termed as the underdogs of the tournament, Quetta Gladiators are currently second on the points table right after Peshawar Zalmi. The latter is top after having lost only two out of its eight matches.

The match, scheduled for Friday, will rein in a lot of viewers as the two strongest teams are pitted against each other. The provincial capital’s residents, who are supporting their home team, are confident of a victory.

After all, Zalmis can rely on their great batting and bowling line-up. The team boasts players such as Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hafeez.

When The Express Tribune spoke to Zalmi fans, they were brimming with confidence.

Maham, supporting her home team, says, “Peshawar Zalmi means the youth of Peshawar and it is the best team.” She did have a message for her team, “Tameem Iqbal you are playing well.”

However, not all of Peshawar is completely behind the Zalmis. Diehard fan Said Aziz pointed out that “I can show my love for the teams in percentages. My love for Peshawar Zalmi is 60% and 40% for Quetta Gladiators.”

“Quetta Gladiators are my favourite team because of Sarfaraz, but the combination of Tameem and Hafiz in Zalmi is awesome,” says Alam, another fan looking forward to Friday’s clash of the titans.

Celebrating victory

Matches call for solidarity – misery and jubilation both seek company. People in Peshawar gather at shops and hotels and watch PSL games live on TV.

Faheem, who has been following the matches with his friends, says the people like watching their favourite teams together. “We celebrate every boundary; every four and six.” He hopes the next series would be held in Pakistan. “We want PSL to be played in our country.”

Cricket lover Amina switched sides mid-tournament. “In the beginning I was a Lahore Qalanders fan, but after two matches I’m with Zalmi.” She adds the team is the “complete package and Boom Boom Afridi is my favourite player.”

Team tees

Where there’s sponsored sport, there’s merchandise and here the city is no different. Cricket fans can be seen sporting team jerseys. Since the start of the series, the demand for these jerseys has increased – a show of love for the team.

Iftikhar, who has a shop at Karimpura, says, “We sell at least 30 Peshawar Zalmi shirts daily and most of the buyers are kids and the youth.” He adds the sale of other teams’ merchandise is not satisfactory and only a few fans buy it.

Taking a gamble

With the start of the PSL, professional bookies have done roaring business and earned millions. They have also kept the police busy; law-enforcement officers have busted several gamblers thus far.

SSP Operations Abbas Marwat told The Express Tribune that police arrested 35 gamblers since PSL started and have registered six FIRs. “Most of them were arrested from the city area of Peshawar.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2016.

COMMENTS (1)

A-Pukhtoon | 8 years ago | Reply PSL rocks!
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