Pervez Khattak announces Rs20m reward for PSL victors Peshawar Zalmi

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Pervez Khattak announces Rs20m reward for PSL victors Peshawar Zalmi

Dawn.com Published March 6, 2017

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has announced a reward of Rs20 million for Peshawar Zalmi, the team that was crowned the champions of Pakistan Super League's (PSL) second edition Sunday night.

According to a series of tweets posted on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) official Twitter page, Khattak telephoned Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi and congratulated him on winning the title.

While appreciating the performance of all players of the team, the chief minister invited the management and players of Zalmi to a "grand reception" to be held in their honour in Peshawar.

He also announced a cash reward of Rs20 million for Peshawar Zalmi team.

An economical spell by left-arm orthodox Muhammad Asghar and a quick-fire knock of 40 by Kamran Akmal inspired Peshawar Zalmi to clinch the PSL title.

They crushed a hapless Quetta Gladiators in a one-sided final by 58 runs before a packed to capacity crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night.

Zalmi's Kamran Akmal was declared the man of the tournament while Sammy was awarded the man of the final trophy.

Pakistan

PSL final: Passion for cricket conquers fear

PSL in pictures: cricket comes home to Lahore

7 things you may have missed from the PSL 2017 finale in Lahore

JANA

Mar 06, 2017 02:25pm

Who gives him the right to give public money to the Zalmi team?

Recommend 0

KPK ZAlmi

Mar 06, 2017 02:25pm

Pervez khattak needs to spend this money on education. I wonder what made him to use the money of poor people lavishly.

Recommend 0

Sixer From Chakwal

Mar 06, 2017 02:25pm

Good gesture from KP Govt

Recommend 0

sami

Mar 06, 2017 02:26pm

Isn't this a wrong priority? The cricketers did not play the match free. Instead, spend this money on poor.

Recommend 0

shahid

Mar 06, 2017 02:23pm

The move is totally against the law and misuse of public funds. Zalmi is a privately owned business organization and PSL a domestic competition.

Recommend 0

iffi

Mar 06, 2017 02:32pm

good initiative ... deserve appreciation ...

Recommend 0

Princess_of_DHUMP

Mar 06, 2017 02:28pm

@KPK ZAlmi Exactly! Zalmi is a franchise team not a national or provincial team and again as you said there are better uses for that money which is not Pervez Khattak's to spend anyway

Recommend 0

Brahmdgh

Mar 06, 2017 02:28pm

what a waste

Recommend 0

imran ali

Mar 06, 2017 02:32pm

this money should have used to provide basic need of poor and sick people

Recommend 0

Salman

Mar 06, 2017 02:32pm

Its wrong! KPK need every bit of money right now towards development. 2 Crore is big money.

Recommend 0

Arshad hussain khan

Mar 06, 2017 02:37pm

From Personal A/c or Public Money?

Recommend 0

imtiaz syed

Mar 06, 2017 02:35pm

@KPK ZAlmi Is this the only money to be spent on education like we dont have money apart from this. Kp has spent most on education in the history of Pakistan, but this is another debate.

Recommend 0

Khan

Mar 06, 2017 02:40pm

PK this is public money not so? rather give this money to flood/earth quick effected displaced peoples... under IK nose what a joke!!

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 06, 2017 02:39pm

Is it his own money? If not, then kindly use it for education, healthcare, utilities and infra-structure development in various parts of the KP province including the great land and people of FATA.

Recommend 0

Chishti

Mar 06, 2017 02:48pm

How can he give it them? PSL is an entire private affair, all the participating teams are owned by individuals. Is he out of his mind....

Recommend 0

Ansari11

Mar 06, 2017 02:55pm

@Princess_of_DHUMP Correct plz. It is a provincial team. Every province has their teams named after their capitals

Recommend 0

Batool Nasir

Mar 06, 2017 03:19pm

Mr CM of KP, please don't give this much amount to an already cash-sufficient team. Spare this to your initiated school and health programmes in the province.

Recommend 0

The end is near

Mar 06, 2017 03:23pm

Good work by Pervez Khattak. This will encourage the players for more hard work and dedication. 20 million rupees are just 2 Karores. The winners of PSL finals fully deserve it.

Recommend 0

khalid Yousafzai (UK)

Mar 06, 2017 03:28pm

@KPK ZAlmi ...Thanks for the intelligent advice, I agree with you. There as so many poor students.

Recommend 0

prafful

Mar 06, 2017 03:28pm

How can that happen, never heard this anywhere its like Delhi govt announcing award for Delhi dare devils privately owned leagues, these leagues are for enjoyment only, apart from cricket release these funds for ASIAN/COMMONWEALTH/OLYMPICS which makes nation proud or to say underprivileged games like Hockey/football etc.

Recommend 0

Tanweer

Mar 06, 2017 03:29pm

20 MILLION ............................ Is the owner his buddy or what?

Recommend 0

SAB

Mar 06, 2017 03:35pm

He cannot. It's a private franchise.

Recommend 0

Shivaji

Mar 06, 2017 03:44pm

Revenue earned in terms of tax from common man income and who gave the rights to this kind of politician to declare such a huge amount that is also for internal tournament. Shame.

Recommend 0

Alien

Mar 06, 2017 03:45pm

@JANA he is CM and also he is not spending his whole KPK budget on Zalmi like CM punjab spend on Lahore Metro train etc ..............

Recommend 0

Arif

Mar 06, 2017 03:53pm

seriously?????...where are your priorities??? why not spend this money on education, health, infrastructure? whats wrong with this guy?

Recommend 0

Concerned Pakistani

Mar 06, 2017 03:59pm

Khattak should give this money from his own pocket. Don,t give them public money.

Recommend 0

Jamshed

Mar 06, 2017 04:03pm

What you have done for the people who lost their lives in FATA/WANA. Displaced people?

Recommend 0

Indian

Mar 06, 2017 04:12pm

mad people are everywhere

Recommend 0

Princess_of_DHUMP

Mar 06, 2017 04:14pm

@Ansari11 No... The team is not owned by Govt of KPK. There is no public money that goes into its running nor the government benefits from it in any way - sponsorships, sales of merchandise etc. its a privately owned franchise.

Recommend 0

imdadali

Mar 06, 2017 04:16pm

gud but it is from his pocket or from govt exchequer,

Recommend 0

Dr. Khan

Mar 06, 2017 04:20pm

Guys come on........you are absolutely spot on to say that this is public money and must be spent so.......... however, the team is an inspiration to the whole of the KPK and the franchise has done more than enough to earn this privilege to be supported by the Govt. ........ It is investing in any academy ...... coaching and providing opportunities to youngsters and most of all something with which the whole of KPK can take pride on.

Recommend 0

imran

Mar 06, 2017 04:23pm

NAB needs to wake up here. This is pure circumvention of govt. rules.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Mar 06, 2017 04:26pm

Really? These PSL players are already taking big money. On top of that why KP is spending Tax money on it? Kya KP ky main hospitals / school bun gae hain?

Recommend 0

Imran

Mar 06, 2017 04:27pm

Sir , this is public money not your personal money!

Recommend 0

Jeep

Mar 06, 2017 04:29pm

IK boycotted the match. KP CM never attended it. now this... what a joke.

Recommend 0

Waaris

Mar 06, 2017 04:34pm

@JANA the same system that allows Sharifs to hand out in compensation!! Tax payer's money is treated like free money by the politicians!!!

Recommend 0

Shampee

Mar 06, 2017 04:48pm

The players are already well settled, rich people, please spend this amount on poor people.

Recommend 0

ramesh

Mar 06, 2017 05:03pm

Rich King of Poor Country

Recommend 0

Syed

Mar 06, 2017 05:09pm

No different than other politicians specially when pti claims to be loyal to country. He has no right to give away countrys money like this. Instead he could have set this money aside for needy and poor or towards some other developent. This is just a political stunt.

Recommend 0

Fiz

Mar 06, 2017 05:15pm

Neither the CM nor PTI leadership was there to support the team.

Recommend 0

Love Your Country

Mar 06, 2017 05:20pm

@Brahmdgh - bcz there is no accountability.

Recommend 0

Love Your Country

Mar 06, 2017 05:22pm

@imran - somebody should go to the court and stop this payment.

Recommend 0

mama Jee

Mar 06, 2017 05:23pm

Ok Imran Khan said that holding PSL Final in Pakistan is madness. But his CM is inviting the entire team to Peshawar. What sort of hypocrisy is this?

Recommend 0

Imran GHUMMAN

Mar 06, 2017 05:21pm

Yes Mr. CM, you have got the avenue where you can spend the untilized budget of KPK! Good going!

Recommend 0

Akram

Mar 06, 2017 05:32pm

public money should not be given to private teams like this, he should have just given them a handshake or thank you dinner in their honour. How many schools could we but computers for with Rs20 million?

Recommend 0

Sajjad kamran

Mar 06, 2017 05:41pm

Lo ! There is no shortage of kings and king-makers in Pakistan. These Chief Ministers are trying to outdo each other in spending public money unjustifiably. The PSL final was between two Pakistani teams with a few foreign players and no more. Then why this huge amont? It could have been better spent elsewhere on on public schemes.

Recommend 0

PhIlosopher(from japan)

Mar 06, 2017 05:42pm

From his own pocket?

Recommend 0

Bitter truth

Mar 06, 2017 05:42pm

Wasting money... He thinks thee people won world cup... They won county's club match... When these political people get knowledge I don't know

Recommend 0

Junaid anwar

Mar 06, 2017 05:50pm

Brother this is not a national team , btw i thought we have education emergency in this country and we dont have resources for it and our respectable CM is giving away tax payers money like ,if its his own.

Recommend 0

Faisal

Mar 06, 2017 06:04pm

Public funds going to private business. Interesting.

Recommend 0

Jazzy

Mar 06, 2017 06:05pm

A man capable of making decisions like these should not be in a position of responsibility.Welcome to the fourth world..Geeway pakishtan.

Recommend 0

Khurram jadoon

Mar 06, 2017 06:03pm

Political stunt - after loosing it in Lahore, PTI is trying to recover it in Peshawar. No one really cares about this motherland, rather all of them do their best to show opponent down at any cost!

Recommend 0

Mar 06, 2017 06:23pm

Those who criticise CM KPK should first ask shebaz sharif about the scams of public money.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Mar 06, 2017 06:35pm

Please spend that money on a school in KPK.

Recommend 0

Saeeds

Mar 06, 2017 06:56pm

Good to see so many comments against this senseless decision by KP government. You cannot people fund. Expand this money on sports facilities .

Recommend 0

awan

Mar 06, 2017 07:04pm

Why these players are getting such huge public money for just victory.they are already making good money. Someone should challenge this nonsense decision in high court.

Recommend 0

MOHAMMAD IQBAL

Mar 06, 2017 07:08pm

@JANA . Same power which gave permission to Nawaz Sharif to buy Bullet proof cars to retired judges out of publuc money.

Recommend 0

Mar 06, 2017 07:22pm

I am die hard PTI follower but I agree, there was NO need to give such an amount to the private owned team. They already make so much money. Instead, that money should have been contributed in health and education sectors. I do not think that even 2009 winner of T20 WC team had received this kind of amount from the Federal Govt.Khattak Sb, if you are that happy then give it from your own pocket. You have NO right to spend people's tax money on the domestic team like this. NO

Recommend 0

Mar 06, 2017 07:22pm

@Sixer From Chakwal I disagree

Recommend 0

Dr. rafiq khan

Mar 06, 2017 07:23pm

LOL, first PTI was against hosting the PSL Final in Pakistan, now they want to give away Pakistani tax payers' money to a private business?! Wah ji wah Imran Paji!

Recommend 0

Reader

Mar 06, 2017 07:28pm

Is that his personal money? Cricketers are quite well to do, spend it elsewhere.

Recommend 0

KHAN22

Mar 06, 2017 07:41pm

I believe this is wrong decision. PSL is a private enterprise and KPK Gov cannot spend public funds for Private celebrations. It was enough to spend money on arranging Large screen show for the match in different part of Peshawar city but other than that I would not give a grand reception either.

Recommend 0

AKB

Mar 06, 2017 08:16pm

KPK is the province of poor people and can hardly afford lavish spending like this one.

Recommend 0

anony

Mar 06, 2017 08:20pm

An excellent step. Cricket returned to Pakistan with huge success and Zalmis, the deserved winners, definitely deserve this prize. For those bickering on why they are being offered this prize money, do you dare ask Nawaz Shareef about all his corruption?

Recommend 0

LIfe

Mar 06, 2017 08:45pm

PSL teams do not represent a province. I couldn't understand the reason for this announcement.

Recommend 0

Rin

Mar 06, 2017 08:47pm

Is this how PTI plans to spend tax money out of KPK's budget?

Recommend 0

Not cricket

Mar 07, 2017 07:19am

Ridiculous outlay of public funds/taxes. If the CM feels magnanimous then he should use his own funds.

Recommend 0

Mr. Reason

Mar 07, 2017 12:27pm

@JANA The people who chose him to be their Chief Minister.

Recommend 0

Adil Jadoon

Mar 08, 2017 07:31am

Is this his own money???

Recommend 0

dr waheed

Mar 08, 2017 09:14am

have u taken permission from imran khan

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Putting better health in more hands: Reckitt Pakistan unveils Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation

Powered by Dettol and Harpic, the flagship platform begins in schools to provide safe drinking water, rehabilitated toilets, handwashing facilities and hygiene education.

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.