The PSL 6 will kick start from tomorrow at National Stadium Karachi. The first half of the tournament will be played in Karachi while the second half will be played in Lahore at Gaddafi stadium.
PSL 6 is just around the corner and fans are excited to see all their favorite cricketers from different countries be together in one stadium. What makes PSL 2021 more exciting is that international celebrities will also be joining the franchises as brand ambassadors.
Esra Bilgiç, who played the role of Halima Sultan in the famous Turkish drama series Dirilis: Ertugrul, had hinted that she would be working be PSL 6 franchise Peshawar Zalmi. Recently, in a tweet, she wrote “new beginnings” and tagged the franchise’s owner Javed Afridi.
In response, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi’s franchise Afridi also tweeted “New Beginning” and tagged the Turkish actress.
To increase people’s excitement, Afridi has shared a new photo with the Turkish star on his Insta story. Both, Javed and Esra, can be seen talking via video chat and pose for a screenshot image. Afridi wrote, “Pleasure catching up with you Esra.”
The actress had created suspense last year in July after she tweeted that she had some “good news” and tagged the Zalmi account as well as Javed Afridi.
Earlier in January, in an Instagram post, she posted a picture of Islamia University Peshawar with the caption “The City of Flowers”. This led to fans and followers speculating if the star was in Pakistan.
It was being speculated that Esra will be visiting Pakistan soon as she has reportedly signed a contract with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi. While it is too early to say if Bilgiç will be coming to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Javed recently revealed that Mahira Khan will represent Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi in the sixth edition.
Peshawar Zalmi’s decision to appoint Esra Bilgiç as the face of the team has irked Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, who took to social media to express her disapproval.
Commenting under a post, which speculated that Zalmi has chosen Esra as their brand ambassador for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Sharmeen said: “I find this hilarious! A Turkish actress whose country doesn’t even play the sport will now be a mascot for cricket.”
“What happened to Pakistani actresses by the way?” she continued. “Did they all disappear that we have to get foreign ones? Whatever is left of our industry will die if you keep paying Turkish actors for jobs Pakistani actors can do!”
When an Instagram user responded to Chinoy and said that giving work to foreign actors will be good for the industry, Chinoy said: “You don’t know anything about the industry. How can you say it’s good for it?”
“We have a very small industry, we have to protect it,” she continued. “Once we grow, we can open up. Please do your research before making such tall claims.”
“This is not about close-mindedness or about being jealous, this is being practical given the resources we have,” she added.
Responding to another user who advised her not to be jealous, Chinoy said: “Last I checked I was a filmmaker, not an actress but since most of you don’t care about Pakistani film industry, let me lay it out for you.”
“If you stop sponsoring your own actors and actresses whatever is left of the industry will die. But trolls like you don’t care that you can take a punt at me! Good luck with that,” she added.
Bilgiç aka Haleema Sultan recently left fans in a tizzy after she posted a picture of Islamia University Peshawar with the caption “The City of Flowers”.
While it has not yet been confirmed whether the star has signed a deal with the team, Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi added more fuel to the fire by retweeting Esra’s tweet and posting one with the same caption.
Earlier in July 2020, Afridi had asked Zalmi fans what they thought about having the cast of Dirilis: Ertuğrul as the brand ambassador of the team. Responding to Afridi’s tweet, the Turkish actress had said: “I will be sharing some good news with you soon.”
Recently, several Turkish actors from the super hit drama series have visited Pakistan for different purposes. From Engin Altan Düzyatan (Ertuğrul Bey) to Cavit Çetin Güner (Dogan Alp) and Celal AL (Abdur Rehman Alp), almost every prominent actor from the drama series has visited different cities of the country.
Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in Pakistan ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home in Ramzan 2020. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to details, millions of people have tuned in to watch the show on PTV and YouTube.
Strict security arrangements in place for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoff matches in Karachi, starting on November 14, have become a cause of discomfort for citizens of the metropolis.
According to reports, a large area around the National Stadium Karachi (NSK) was cordoned off on Wednesday by security forces for the practice match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans. A huge contingent of police and other law-enforcing agencies was deployed inside and outside the venue hindering the movement of residents in the surrounding areas.
According to details, authorities have also blocked the road from Karsaz to the stadium for heavy traffic, and no public transport is allowed on that road. The entry points at the KDA scheme along the Karsaz Road have also been sealed with the help of heavy containers.
The whole surrounding of National stadium Karachi has been sealed for 3rd consecutive day now & it will be for next 7 as well. Absolute torture for people living nearby, I know security is important but with no crowds, this is overdoing it
People living in the surrounding areas have been restricted to their homes for the last three to four days causing them a lot of inconvenience. People argued that if there was no audience attending the matches, then why was the need for the areas to be sealed.
The PSL playoffs were suspended on March 17 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Initially, the play-offs were scheduled in Lahore but were shifted to Karachi due to weather issues.
In the qualifier, on November 14 the table-toppers Multan Sultans will face second-placed Karachi Kings. In the first eliminator, former champions Peshawar Zalmi will lock horns with the third-placed Lahore Qalandars.
The second eliminator will be held on November 15 between the losers of the qualifier and winners of the first eliminator. The final take place on November 17.
Just a day after the end of his best IPL season (449 runs in 13 outings), it has been confirmed that Faf du Plessis will turn out for Peshawar Zalmi in the playoffs stage of the Pakistan Super League, which will resume from November 14.
The tournament, played in February-March, was brought to a standstill by the Covid-19 pandemic right after the league stage was done, according to a Cricbuzz report.
Du Plessis has been roped in as a replacement for Kieron Pollard, who will be away in New Zealand tending to national duties in that period. In the backdrop of CSK’s season-ender against KXIP on November 1, the 36-year-old du Plessis had stated his desire to keep playing for at least five more years.
“I am very excited to join Peshawar Zalmi for the playoff stage games of HBL PSL 2020. I have fond memories of playing in Pakistan when I toured with the ICC World XI in 2017 and I am sure this experience, although different due to Covid-19, will be a memorable one as well,” Du Plessis said. He will be one of the seven South African players who will be in action during the knockouts stage of the tournament.
Other replacements
Karachi Kings bring in Sherfane Rutherford for England pacer Chris Jordan, while Waqas Maqsood has been roped in for the injured USA star Ali Khan. Lahore Qalanders have picked Tamim Iqbal to replace Chris Lynn, Abid Ali for Salman Butt and Agha Salman for Sri Lanka’s Sekkuge Prasanna.
Multan Sultans will be without Moeen Ali, and have replaced him with Mahmudullah. Adam Lyth has been picked to fill the void left by Fabian Allen. Besides du Plessis, Peshawar have a list of replacements – Hardus Viljoen for Liam Dawson, Yasir Shah for Lewis Gregory and Khurram Shahzad for Amir Khan.
On November 14, table-toppers Multan Sultan will take on Karachi Kings in the first qualifier, followed by the eliminator clash between Lahore Qalandar and Peshawar Zalmi. The second eliminator will be held on November 15, and the final on November 17.
Haider Ali, the young Pakistan batsman, is widely tipped to be the next big player in the squad. He impressed everyone in the Under 19 World Cup and was also a star in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He has the talent to take the next step forward and the right-hander wants to keep improving his game so that people can talk about him in the same vein as Babar Azam.
“A batsman can never become like his role models but can improve himself and develop shots as they play. I want to improve myself to the extent that people call me Babar Azam and not Kohli because Babar has good shots,” Haider said in a video on YouTube.
However, he then went on to add that he wants to keep learning and imbibe the good qualities of Virat Kohli as well. “I cannot become Kohli but can develop shots like him through practice. I’m Haider Ali so I can only become Haider Ali,” he further added.
“I met Babar Azam during the first-class tournament and he gave me tips regarding my batting. We also get to learn a lot from him in the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. He also supported me during PSL by boosting my confidence and advising me to keep scoring runs and leave the rest to Allah Almighty,” the young batsman added.
Ali, who smacked four fours and the same number of sixes, also became the youngest batsman to score a half-century — which came off just 31 balls — in HBL PSL’s history aged just 19 years.
Meanwhile, it is being reported that Wahab Riaz will now be captaining the team.
Darren Sammy has been named as new head coach of Peshawar Zalmi. Akram promoted as director cricket with additional role of the bowling coach. Sammy will also be available for selection as a player. Wahab Riaz takes over the role as new captain. pic.twitter.com/651IP6wWl9
Sammy was rested in the Zalmi’s last game against Karachi Kings on Monday. The decision was allegedly taken after Sammy’s struggled for form and fitness because of which Zalmi have descended to the fifth position on the PSL 2020 points table. Former Zalmi head coach Mohammad Akram had held a press conference in which he explained that resting players is nothing new, adding that Sammy was given a break to “work on his form and fitness.”
Peshawar Zalmi captain Daren Sammy has slammed rumours that implied that he has developed differences with the team owner Javed Afridi after he was rested for Monday’s game against Karachi Kings. Sammy asserted that no one can come between him and his ‘baby’.
I can’t believe that the media would think that my bro @JAfridi10 and I would ever have an issue. I’m actually laughing at this. Listen guys I love this man as my own brother. Are u guys serious @PeshawarZalmi is my baby and nothing comes between us. Absolutely nothing. pic.twitter.com/oRc5J5EiCN
Rumours of differences began to emerge after Sammy posted a cryptic tweet after he was rested for the game. Wahab Riaz captained the team in Sammy’s absence.
I’ve learnt that you are important until you’ve completed your role. #dealingwithhumans
Following Sammy’s tweet, reports emerged that Sammy was upset with the decision to rest him. Zalmi had replaced Sammy with Carlos Brathwaite. The decision was allegedly taken after Sammy’s struggled for form and fitness because of which Zalmi have descended to the fifth position on the PSL 2020 points table.
The decision to replace Sammy, however, did not work as well as the management expected. Brathwaite managed to score only 8 runs and Peshawar lost the match.
Shoaib Akhtar, on the other hand, claimed that Sammy had a falling out with Afridi. Shoaib extended his support towards Sammy whom he termed a hero. Akhtar also commented that Shahid Afridi was also once part of the team.
However, last week, Sammy and Afridi were spotted cruising on the streets of Islamabad.
Look who’s driving this time in Islamabad. One & only @darensammy88 . Thank you for bringing this day of festivity (PSL) to Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Ezxm8i7H8o
Later in the day (Tuesday), Zalmi head coach Mohammad Akram also held a media talk in Rawalpindi in which he refuted the resports and revealed that it was his decision to rest Sammy against Karachi, adding that Sammy, too, was in agreement that he needed rest.
The head coach explained that resting players is nothing new, also saying that Sammy was given a break to “work on his form and fitness”.
Meanwhile, Sammy has become the first international cricket player to receive the highest civilian award and honorary citizenship of Pakistan for his contribution to the development of cricket in the country.
President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi will confer both the citizenship and award, the ‘Nishane Pakistan’, on March 23.
Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi has announced that fans will be given free bus rides from Peshawar to Rawalpindi to watch the Peshawar Zalmi’s five matches in the city.
Peshawar Zalmi is set to play five consecutive matches in Peshawar between 28th February to 7th March. “The fans are the real strength of Peshawar Zalmi and we want to make sure that maximum of the fans from our base in Peshawar reach Rawalpindi comfortably to cheer for the team,” Afridi said.
“All the ticket holders for respective games will get free bus service,” he added.
Peshawar Zalmi will play Lahore Qalandars on 28th February, Islamabad United on 29th, Karachi Kings on 2nd March, Quetta Gladiators on 5th March and 2nd leg’s game Islamabad United on 7th March.
Afridi further told that large screens are also being installed in Peshawar where families can enjoy the live-action on the TV broadcasts.
