Looking forward to entertaining fans in Pakistan: Darren Sammy

By
Faizan Lakhani
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Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy. Photo: File

KARACHI: The former West Indies captain and one of Pakistan’s favourite foreign cricketers, Darren Sammy says he’s looking forward to entertaining cricket fans during the three upcoming matches in Lahore next week.

Darren, who visited Pakistan earlier this year for the PSL final with Peshawar Zalmi told media in Dubai that he’s glad to be part of a process to bring cricket back to Pakistan.

“Pakistan is trying to bring cricket back safely and we are happy to be part of that,” said Sammy who twice-led West Indies to victory in the World T20 title in 2012 and 2016.

The 33-year-old West Indian cricketer said that it is good to be visiting Pakistan again and he would have been disappointed if he was not picked for the team to tour Pakistan.

Sammy, who also led Peshawar Zalmi to victory in the PSL title this year in Lahore, said that the three matches between Pakistan and World XI team are ‘bigger than just a cricket series.’

“It is exciting. It is bigger than just cricket matches...it is bigger and will play a part in bringing cricket back in Pakistan,” Sammy said.

The St. Lucia player also said that he has shared his experience of visiting Pakistan with fellow players who are part of the World XI squad.

“This morning I shared my experience of visiting Pakistan for the PSL final but the fact that all of them are here is because they have accepted to be part of this [series],” said Sammy.

“We all are glad to be part of this process, I know that fans would go crazy in the stadium and we’ll play some good competitive cricket,” he said.

Sammy added that Pakistani fans have always been supportive of West Indies cricket and he has always enjoyed the love he received from Pakistan. The West Indian cricket star said that he’s looking forward to entertain Pakistani fans.

When a journalist asked him about his favourite thing in Pakistan, Sammy was quick to say it was the “people of Pakistan.”

“We just enjoy playing the game and Pakistani fans are very massive fans of people from the West Indies,” he said. “I try to entertain where I go and that’s what I’ll try to do when I will be playing in Pakistan,” Sammy said.

He expressed hope for cricket fans in Pakistan to soon be able to witness more international cricket on their home ground.

“It is so crucial, the part we play, in making sure that fans in Pakistan get to see some good competitive cricket and I am excited about these three games,” he said.