Shahid Afridi and Peshawar Zalmi: A parting of the ways

The relationship between all-rounder Shahid Afridi and his former PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi appears to have hit a rock bottom.

It’s nothing new, however. Reports of a rift between the cricketer and Zalmi owner Javed Afridi had made rounds when the former had handed over captaincy to fellow Zalmi player Darren Sammy ahead of the second edition of Pakistan Super League.

The rumours flared up again when, earlier this year, Afridi parted ways with Peshawar Zalmi altogether, not even waiting for the draft of next year’s PSL to break the news.

Another evidence of the souring relations between the former captain and Zalmi owner was visible during this week’s Peace Cup match against UK Media XI at Miranshah, North Waziristan, organised by the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Cricket Board and Peshawar Zalmi.

Afridi took to the field with the Zalmi logo on his shirt hidden by a logo of the Pakistan Army, in addition to the Pakistan Army logo already present on the shirts worn by all the players during the match.

With this latest act, Afridi seemed to have sent out a clear message to his former franchise: there’s no going back to the days of the past.

Afridi, who captained Pakistan in one Test, 38 ODIs and 43 T20s, scored a rapid knock of 80 runs during the Peace Cup match, leading his side to victory and winning the Man of the Match award. 

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