Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi calls for a COVID-19 fund-raiser match between PSL and IPL

Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi, wants India and Pakistan to come together and host a match between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).. The veteran called the match to be a part of a fund-raiser for the needy and underprivileged, bearing in mind the COVID-19 pandemic that has rocked the world.

At the present point in time, the UAE is busy, hosting the 2020 edition of the IPL, which got underway on September 19 and is scheduled for a final on November 10. The tournament was about to be played in India from March, but had to be moved out after the lockdowns imposed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scratched their heads and decided UAE as a venue.

In the meantime, Afridi took to Twitter and wrote, “HOW ABOUT “PSL vs IPL” ?Venue : UAE.” Later, in  another tweet he also mentioned that the initiative should be taken in order to raise funds. “FUND RAISER FOR COVID,” his second tweet read.

Here’s the tweet:

“FUND RAISER FOR COVID” https://t.co/MaPH8j725o

— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) September 29, 2020

PSL to start on November 14

Afridi has quite a bit of work to do in the coming days as the playoffs for the 2020 PSL is set to start on Saturday, November 14. Back in March, the coronavirus pandemic halted the PSL as well after the top four teams were decided. The Zalmi, led by Wahab Riaz and Darren Sammy, won only four out of their 10 matches and edged the Quetta Gladiators out on their way to the playoffs.

They will now face Sohail Akhtar’s Lahore Qalandars in the Eliminator at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. All the remaining four games in PSL 2020 will be played in Lahore itself. Back in 2017, the Zalmi emerged as the champions, beating the Gladiators in the final in Lahore itself.

But in 2018 and 2019, they lost the finals to the Gladiators and Islamabad United respectively. It remains to be seen if they manage to turn their fortunes around this time around. Kamran Akmal has been a vital cog in their setup. In the ongoing PSL, he has 251 runs with a century to his name.