Zalmi owner demands inclusion of Peshawar as venue for PSL 10

Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi, has formally appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider including Peshawar as a venue for matches in the upcoming season 10 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

In an email addressed to PCB officials, Afridi expressed his surprise regarding the absence of matches scheduled for Peshawar and emphasized the significance of hosting matches at Zalmi's home ground.

 He also urged for cooperation to complete the remaining 20% of construction work at the Peshawar stadium, stating that Zalmi's team is scheduled to meet with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin on May 13 to coordinate efforts regarding the stadium's readiness. 

Afridi further requested PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to establish a dedicated committee in Peshawar to ensure the certainty of PSL matches in the city. 

Confirming these developments, Afridi shared details on social media, expressing optimism about the support received from the Chief Minister and the PCB Chairman. 

“Had a productive call with CM KP @AliAminKhanPTI. He has given directives to the sports department to release funds for the remaining 20% job at Arbab Niaz Stadium Peshawar. Chairman PCB is in favor of hosting Peshawar Zalmi games in Peshawar. Get ready for some thrilling events before PSL, fans will see International Stars at KP Soil. InshaAllah,” Afridi wrote on X.

Previously, Cricket Pakistan reported that during a working group meeting in Lahore on Saturday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suggested dates for the 10th edition of the PSL that overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading to objections from several franchises. 

The meeting, attended by COO Salman Naseer, senior PCB officials, team owners, and other officials (some joining remotely via Zoom call), discussed proposed dates from early April to mid-May. However, many team owners expressed concerns about this proposed schedule.