PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s T20 skipper Shahid Afridi on Tuesday visited Army public School and announced that Peshawar Zalmi, one of the five franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), will take along 150 students of APS to UAE to witness the league and to support the event and enjoy different matches.

Talking to media-persons here on Tuesday, Afridi said that he is starting a talent hunt programme from APS Peshawar and he would give a lot of time for the grooming of young cricketers. “There is no shortage of talent in the country but it needs proper attention,” said the seasoned all-rounder.

Speaking about Pakistan’s ordinary show in New Zealand T20 series, Afridi slammed opener Ahmad Shahzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal in particular for their poor performance on NZ tour. “If talented players like them perform so poorly, who should we rely on?” asked Afridi.

The all-rounder said he will be speaking to the team management about players’ performance in New Zealand tour ahead of T20 World Cup and will try to motivate the players to overcome their weaknesses and play to their potential.

On this occasion, he also announced the launch of a talent hunt campaign to recruit young cricketers for national cricket academy. “The selected players will be given high-level training and top facilities to hone their skills so that they can excel in the future,” said Afridi.

Afridi later distributed Peshawar Zalmi’s official kits among thirty students hailing from different schools of Khyber Pakht­unkhwa.

The 35-year-old all-rounder said the drive of distributing Zalmi’s official kit was aimed at promoting talent in the province.

Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi, was also present on the occasion and announced he will dedicate his team to the martyred children and teachers of the APS.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2016