ISLAMABAD: The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has announced its partnership with Peshawar Zalmi to promote the refugee cause through cricket in Pakistan.

Peshawar Zalmi are one of the most popular franchises and were champions of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 competition — which have been taking place since 2016 — in 2017.

As part of the partnership, Peshawar Zalmi and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR )will work together to highlight refugee issues during the forthcoming fifth edition of the PSL, which begns from Feb 20.

Javed Afridi, chairman of Peshawar Zalmi, presented the official team jersey to UNHCR’s Director for Asia and the Pacific, Indrika Ratwatte, in Islamabad.

“War, conflict and persecution forces millions of people to become refugees worldwide,” said Afridi. “We are happy that Peshawar Zalmi and UNHCR will jointly partner to run an awareness campaign during the Pakistan Super League.”

Ratwatte acknowledged Peshawar Zalmi’s support for the refugee cause.”Javed is already playing a major role as UNHCR Pakistan’s Refugee Youth Ambassador and by reflecting UNHCR’s logo on the Peshawar Zalmi jersey in a national cricket tournament like PSL. We wish good luck to Peshawar Zalmi for PSL Season Five,” he said.Pakistan has remained a generous refugee host for more than four decades.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2020