KARACHI: Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy and coach for Pakistani franchise T20 cricket team Peshawar Zalmi said on Sunday what set the Pakistan Super League (PSL) series apart from other leagues was the high quality of bowlers participating in the tournament.
Pakistan last year conferred honorary citizenship on Sammy for his “invaluable contribution” toward the return of top-flight cricket to the country.
Sammy has been a regular member of the Peshawar Zalmi side in the Pakistan Super League since the series was launched in 2016 and captained the franchise to the PSL title in the second edition in 2017. He has been a staunch advocate for the return of international cricket to Pakistan.
Pakistan did not host any international cricket for over six years after a 2009 militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore.
“The difference with PSL and the different leagues I think is the quality of bowlers that are there in the tournament,” Sammy said in an interview with Arab News. “When the [PSL] tournament was played in Dubai and Sharjah you know, the quality of bowling was really, really good. Now we see here, we play on good pitches in Pakistan, it ... brings out the bowlers’ skills to play even more.”
Sammy said playing for Peshawar Zalmi felt like being part of a ‘family’ and the team had helped in identifying great new cricketing talent for Pakistan.
“Our first emerging player was Hassan Ali; in the space of two to three years he became the number one bowler in ODI [one day international] cricket,” the coach said. ”Last year we had Haider Ali, who was the emerging player; now I think he’s gonna be a really impactful batsman in the future for Pakistan within the next two to three years.”
“And Mohamed Imran, this kid is going to be some talent, you just got to watch out for him,” Sammy added. “I must say, you know, the talent that’s been displayed here in Pakistan, the young emerging talent, especially in the fast-bowling department has just been amazing.
“You’ve seen Shaheen Shah Afridi, you know the way he’s come on,” the coach said, referring to a 20-year-old Pakistan fast bowler who in 2019, in a match against Bangladesh, became the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a World Cup match — the best bowling figures by a bowler for Pakistan in a World Cup match. Following the World Cup, the International Cricket Council named Afridi the rising star of the squad.
“So, yeah, PSL keeps on offering talent, which is also good for Pakistan,” Sammy said.
The coach said he hoped the sixth edition of PSL, postponed this month after a number of players tested positive for the coronavirus, would restart in June.
“Hopefully … every team gets the same set of players back, so we could start from where we were, [where] we left off,” Sammy said, “and you know, it could again bring some smiles in Pakistan.”
When asked if he wished to coach the Pakistan national team in the future, the 37-year-old Lucian said: “Maybe in the distant future, if the opportunity presents itself then you never know, but right now my focus is just you know, coaching for the Peshawar [team].”
‘Quality of bowlers’ sets Pakistan Super League apart from other leagues — Daren Sammy
https://arab.news/z77g3
‘Quality of bowlers’ sets Pakistan Super League apart from other leagues — Daren Sammy
- Peshawar Zalmi coach hopes postponed sixth edition of PSL will restart in June and “bring smiles again in Pakistan”
- Says playing for Zalmi is like being part of a “family,” PSL has been great at identifying new talent for Pakistan
Pakistan urges concessional finance for developing nations to boost clean energy security
- Pakistan has emerged as one of world’s fastest growing solar markets, with 12GWs of off-grid and 6GWs of net-metered capacity in 2025
- PM’s aide says Islamabad remains committed to Paris Agreement, looks for continued support in building a resilient and low-carbon future
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged international partners to scale up concessional financing for developing countries, the country’s Press Information Department (PID) said on Sunday, citing an aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The call was made by Sharif’s coordinator on climate change, Romina Khurshid Alam, while delivering Pakistan’s national statement at the 16th International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan has emerged as one of the world’s fastest growing solar markets, with 12 gigawatts (GWs) of off-grid and over 6GWs of net-metered solar capacity by the end of 2025. Last fiscal year, renewables accounted for a historic 53 percent of total electricity generation, according to Alam.
The prime minister’s aide stressed that affordable funding for developing nations is critical to accelerating their transition to clean energy and strengthening energy security amid rising climate and economic challenges.
“Alam reaffirmed Pakistan’s target of achieving 60 percent renewables in the power mix by 2030,” the PID said in a statement.
“In her call to action, she urged IRENA and Member States to increase concessional finance for developing nations, treat technologies such as energy storage and green hydrogen as global public goods, and strengthen regional cooperation for shared energy security.”
IRENA is a global intergovernmental agency for energy transformation that serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, supports countries in their energy transition, and provides state of the art data and analyzes on technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment. Its membership comprises 170 countries and the European Union (EU).
The 16th session of the IRENA Assembly is taking place on Jan. 10-12 in Abu Dhabi and focuses on the theme of “Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity.” The session has gathered global leaders and energy decision-makers to discuss strategies and underline necessary actions for the acceleration of renewable energy across countries, regions, and the world, driving economic inclusion, equity, and human well-being.
Alam shared that Pakistan is taking action against energy poverty through initiatives like the Punjab Solar Panel Scheme 2026, which provides free or subsidized systems to low-income households.
She highlighted how distributed solar kits have restored power and livelihoods in flood-affected communities and offer a replicable model for climate-resilient recovery.
“Pakistan remains fully committed to the Paris Agreement and looks to IRENA for continued technical and financial support in building a resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon future,” Alam said.
Adopted in 2015 to combat climate change, the Paris Agreement binds nations to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
