Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Peshawar announced to dedicate the team to martyrs, students and teachers of Army Public School in an attempt to denounce terrorism by promoting sports
PESHAWAR (Pakistan) – The Peshawar franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be dedicated to the children and teachers of the Army Public School (APS), who lost their lives in a brutal attack by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last December.
The students of Army Public School Sunday unveiled the logo of the team called Peshawar Zalmi Team at the school premises.
“Whatever we win will be dedicated to the martyrs of APS. This is our cause, the city’s cause, KPK’s cause,” franchise owner Javed Afridi, CEO of Haier Home Appliances, said.
“Zalmi, meaning youth, is just not a cricket team,” he said after unveiling the team logo at the premises of APS, an institution he is an alumnus of. “They are ambassadors of our frontiers, exponents of our sportsman spirit that lies in the hearts of every Pakistani.”
The main objective of unveiling the logo in APS premises is to pay rich tribute the martyred children who embraced Shahadat for the motherland, owner of the team Javed Afridi said in a media briefing here.
“KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) region has suffered a lot due to terrorism and the attack on Army Public School was biggest human tragedy, so I’ve decided to dedicate my team for students and martyrs of APS,” said Javed Afridi who owns the franchise for Peshawar’s team in Pakistan Super League.
Afridi’s announcement came three days before the first anniversary of tragic and barbaric attack on innocent students of Army Public School in Peshawar. “Every win by PSL Peshawar team will be for martyrs of APS,” said Afridi.
Afridi, who also hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that he picked Peshawar’s team – named Peshawar Zalmi – because he wanted to portray a positive image of the region. Peshawar became the first PSL franchise to launch its logo and team name in a ceremony held at the APS. Team owner Afridi unveiled a star-studded coaching panel that will lead the team’s campaign in the first edition of the most lucrative domestic tournament in the country’s history.
PSL’s ‘khpal’ team is a true reflection of KPK culture. The logo of “Peshawar Zalmi” is a fusion of traditional Peshawari Pagri (turban) with cricket stumps, a perfect depiction of how people of Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa love cricket.
Former England head coach Andy Flower, former head coach of the National Cricket Academy Mohammad Akram, coach of Peshawar’s two-time national T20 team Abdur Rehman and Pakistan team trainer Grant Luden have been inducted as Peshawar Zalmi’s coaching staff.
Flower will be the batting coach/consultant; Akram will look after the responsibilities as head coach of the team while Rehman and Luden will be assisting in training activities.
“We have tried to keep a top-class panel that can help groom our team for bigger challenges. Flower is a renowned coach who did wonders for England; his presence can also help our players earn county stints since he has an involvement in the set-up there.
“We have the best coaching staff that can shape this team into not only the best club in the country but hopefully one of the top franchises from around the world,” said Javed Afridi.
The inaugural edition of Pakistan Super League will be played from February 4 to February 23 in Sharjah and Dubai.