Darren Sammy- two time T20 World Cup winning captain – will be given the highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan and honorary citizenship of Pakistan by President Arif Alvi on March 23.
Sammy is currently in Pakistan to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 where he is playing as the captain of team “Peshawar Zalmi.” The PCB’s media department announced in a tweet that he will be awarded the citizenship for his “invaluable contribution to cricket in Pakistan”.
President of Pakistan Dr @ArifAlvi will confer the highest civilian award and honourary citizenship to Darren Sammy on 23 March for his invaluable contribution to cricket in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/mn9AiLknB0
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) February 22, 2020
The people of Pakistan received this news well as they have come to fall in love with Sammy. Sammy himself thanked Pakistan and its people for their love and used the hashtag #LOVEWINS
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
On 19th February, Peshawar Zalmi’s owner and Shahid Afridi’s brother- Javed Afridi said that the franchise had put in an application to the president to grant Sammy honorary citizenship of Pakistan to the president. The application for granting Pakistani Citizenship to Darren Sammy was submitted by Peshawar Zalmi to appreciate his efforts to bring back International Cricket in Pakistan. He also said that he requested PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani to pursue it personally so that the application is approved.
Peshawar Zalmi had a celebratory team dinner after a convincing win against Quetta Gladiators on Match-Day 2 of Pakistan Super League 2020 (PSL 5)! Sammy’s grant of citizenship and Kamran Akmal’s great innings were also part of the celebration.
Darren Sammy has always expressed his love of Pakistan and its people and has received love back from them. Upon coming back to Pakistan this year, he tweeted “Always great being here” and expressed that he loves being in Pakistan.
Always great being here https://t.co/MkfZaTImF9
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) February 13, 2020
This is surely a great step taking by President Arif Alvi and Pakistan Cricket Board that will encourage more and more people to come to Pakistan. Also, Pakistan’s image in the world as a peace-loving country is bound to improve through this step as well ❤