PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Zalmi Foundation on Thursday flew out 146 students of the Army Public School to the United Arab Emirates for the Pakistan Super League opening ceremony.

The students boarded a special chartered plane of a private airline from the Bacha Khan International Airport as services of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) stand suspended due to a protest by employees against the institution's privatisation.

Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi had announced on January 26 to fly out APS students to watch the inaugural edition of the PSL.

PSL, Pakistan's franchise-based T20 league, starts on February 4 and will feature five teams: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.

Earlier, Javed Afridi, chief executive of Haier Appliances and owner of Peshawar Zalmi, had dedicated his team to the children and teachers of the APS, who lost their lives in a brutal attack by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in December 2014.

“Whatever we win will be dedicated to the martyrs of APS. This is our cause, the city’s cause, KPK’s cause,” he said.

“Zalmi, meaning youth, is just not a cricket team. They are ambassadors of our frontiers, exponents of our sportsman spirit that lies in the hearts of every Pakistani.”

The APS students will be rooting for Peshawar Zalmi and will return to Pakistan on February 18.