• Javed Afridi will not be present for today’s Pakistan Super League Draft.
• Foreign cricketers have been told not to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• The remarks have damaged Peshawar’s reputation.

Owner of Peshawar Zalmi Javed Afridi will not be present for today’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) draught or the PSL Governing Council meeting, which are both scheduled to take place in Karachi.

According to reports, the action was taken in response to recent remarks made by Ramiz Raja, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and Faisal Hasnain, the CEO, regarding cricket-related activities in Peshawar.

Foreign cricketers have been told not to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan by their respective countries, according to Faisal Hasnain, who was present at the MoU signing in Peshawar.

Days later, Ramiz Raja added his voice to the discussion and stated that while the PCB is ready to bring international cricket back to Peshawar, foreign cricket players are hesitant to visit the provincial capital.

The Peshawar Zalmi administration reportedly believes that this has impeded their attempts to bring cricket back to the province. The remarks have damaged Peshawar’s reputation.

Ramiz Raja had previously indicated that Peshawar Zalmi would play every game at home for the 2023 season of franchise cricket, while Arbab Niaz Stadium would serve as one of the sites.

Javed Afridi reportedly refused to change his mind despite attempts to persuade him by cricket board officials. Zalmi management has opted not to comment on this development in the interim.

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