'Thank you Pakistan, truly honored to receive the civilian award' - Darren Sammy

Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy can call Pakistan his second home given the amount of time and efforts he has put in making the franchise and PSL a success. He has been associated with the Pakistan Super League since its inception and also was part of a World XI that toured Pakistan for the first time to show the world how secure the country was for international cricket.

He has transformed from a foreign player to someone who recently applied for Pakistani citizenship, something that was confirmed by Zalmi owner Javed Afridi.

“We have requested for the honorary citizenship of Pakistan for Daren Sammy. The application is currently at President’s table. I request the PCB chairman to put in a good word for Sammy, so it can be approved. Sammy’s voice notes were too emotional for Pakistan when PCB was trying to hold the PSL season 2 finale in Lahore,” said Javed Afridi as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

Darren Sammy thanks Pakistani for its support and love 

Not only that, speculations were rife that the Pakistani government will also confer the former West Indies captain with nation’s highest civilian award– Nishan-e-Haider– on March 23 by President Arif Alvi. He is currently leading the Peshawar Zalmi side in the PSL 2020 season. “I am the first one here. I am so excited about the tournament being here in Pakistan. Back in 2017 when the final was in Lahore it was a step to bring cricket back here and to have the entire tournament here,” said Darren Sammy.

He also took to Twitter to thank the Pakistan nation and its cricket lovers for the honor he has received. “I am truly honored to be given this civilian award. We took a small step in the right direction in 2017and look at us here today. All the foreign players played their part. Thank u Pakistan for the love shown to us. We only want U to experience cricket at home. #LOVEWINS,” he tweeted.

I am truly honored to be given this civilian award.We took a small step in the right direction in 2017and look at us here today.All the foreign players played their part.Thank u Pakistan for the love shown to us.We only want U to experience cricket at home.#LOVEWINS https://t.co/BEVEJXmkH2

— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) February 23, 2020

Sammy has an illustrious career in international cricket where he led the West Indies team to two ICC World T20 wins in 2012 and 2016 and has played 38 Tests, 126 ODIs and 68 T20Is for the Caribbean team. He has committed himself to T20 leagues around the world after his tiff with the West Indies board led to him becoming persona non grata as far as future selections are concerned.