KKR vs Zalmi, the dream that speculation drowned

Still basking in the afterglow of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) victory, Javed Afridi excited cricket fans at home and abroad on Thursday when he shared details about a proposal from Shah Rukh Khan to play a three-match series between Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders and Afridi’s Peshawar Zalmi.

The news of Shah Rukh Khan congratulating Javed Afridi on winning the second edition Pakistan Super League and a possible series between KKR and Zalmi in either Dubai or London spread like wildfire.

Afridi claims he received congratulatory messages from stars and leaders alike, including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who invited Zalmi to play in Afghanistan, Indian stars Sanjay Kapoor, Gulshan Grover and of course Shah Rukh Khan who according to Afridi called him asking to convince the Pakistani government while Khan would try to persuade New Delhi.

KKR denies outright, Afridi blames speculation

In a tweet that possibly shattered hopes of many die-hard cricket fans, the Kolkata Knight Riders dismissed any possibility of a series against Peshawar Zalmi.

The official account tweeted: “KKR won’t be playing any unauthorized games/leagues as some false reports are claiming. No such communication happened from our end.”

KKR won't be playing any unauthorized games/leagues as some false reports are claiming.
No such communication happened from our end.

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 9, 2017

Shortly after KKR denied the idea, Afridi too broke the news as mere speculation.

He tweeted: “We always welcome cricket for peace ,but there is no truth about @KKRiders & @PeshawarZalmi matches just speculations.Verily respect for [cricket].”

We always welcome cricket for peace ,but there is no truth about @KKRiders & @PeshawarZalmi matches just speculations.Verily respect for

— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) March 9, 2017

However, sources on the condition of anonymity are claiming the sudden denial could possibly be because of the backlash KKR’s owner Shah Rukh Khan faced from the Indian hardliners Shiv Sena.

Sena has off late caused problems for Indian nationals that have spoken for or in defense of Pakistanis in any form.