Sammy hopes to defend PSL title, wear turban again

PSL2 winners Peshawar Zalmi captain says he is glad to be part of the league

Captain of Pakistan Super League (PSL) side Peshawar Zalmi Darren Sammy, who led his side to silverware in the second edition, hopes to defend the title in 2018 so that he can wear the turban given to him again.

Peshawar beat Sarfraz Ahmed’s Quetta Gladiators by 39 runs in the landmark final in Lahore and Sammy was one of the four foreign players — Marlon Samuels, Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan — for the Javed Afridi-owned franchise who came to Pakistan to participate in the match.

When asked if he packed the hat [turban] along with his stuff when leaving Pakistan, Sammy said owner Javed is keeping it safe for him. “I went to Hong Kong right after the game so Javed has it. Hopefully next year we could defend our title and I could wear it again,” he said.

The appearance of international cricketers in the final of the PSL2 helped Pakistan prepare a blueprint of the security situation to present to teams in order to bring the game back to the country. The successful organisation led to the promise of an international all-star team’s tour to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, PSL chairman Najam Sethi, riding on the back of the success of the Lahore final, hoped that he could bring more matches to Pakistan — four each in Karachi and Lahore for third edition.

Sammy, meanwhile, expressed the emotions that cricket fans displayed when he came to Lahore for the final.

“It was great; the love I get from that part of the world is tremendous,” he said. “Myself, Jordan, Samuels and Malan, we thought it is going to be heart-breaking if we didn’t take part in the final. And to see the faces of the fans in Pakistan when I stepped out [of the bus], the roar, I thought I was in the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia. It’s a great tournament; it’s one I’m glad I’m a part of.”



Pakistan bowling legend Waqar Younis, part of the three-man discussion panel, also thanked Sammy for his precious presence in the Lahore final.

“You can clearly see the pictures; they tell you the story,” said Waqar. “Sammy is always welcome there [in Pakistan]. What he did for Pakistan and Pakistan cricket is just outstanding. We can’t really thank him enough. Not only him, there were a few others that went [to Pakistan] and really had a great time.”

https://twitter.com/OSNSports/status/870239655958106112