Game on: Saudi cricket XI to play Pakistan superstars

National federation accepts challenge from entrepreneur owner of Super League’s Peshawar Zalmi

Challenge issued, challenge accepted … now Saudi Arabia’s national cricket XI will test themselves against a team of megastars from the Pakistan Super League. Pakistani entrepreneur Javed Afridi, owner of the Peshawar Zalmi team, got the ball rolling last week. “Best wishes to cricket KSA. How about Peshawar Zalmi vs. KSA in Saudi?” Afridi wrote on Twitter. The response from the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation was quicker than a seamer from Shoaib Akhtar. “We thank Afridi for the wonderful gesture, good wishes to the Saudi national cricket team, and appreciation. We look forward to a lot of cooperation with all great cricket playing countries, such as Pakistan,” said federation general manager Nadeem Nadwi.

“As far as the invitation to play a friendly game is concerned, we accept the challenge and look forward to playing the game at a mutually agreed date and place, here in Saudi Arabia.”

The Saudi team will not find it easy. Peshawar Zalmi fields cricketing legends such as former West Indian skipper Daren Sammy, South African star batsman Hashim Amla, and Pakistan all-rounders Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik.

Afridi issued his challenge after an exclusive Arab News interview with cricket federation chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal, in which he revealed plans to raise the game’s profile in the Kingdom, with Arab News as the national team’s media partner.

The aim is to increase participation at community, club, and international level. A new National

Cricket Championship will be played across 11 cities, and there will be a corporate cricket tournament, a cricket league for expatriate workers, and a social cricket program. 2 Riyals • Vol. XLVI No. 126 • 16 pages

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