Kolkata Knight Riders denies reports of series against Peshawar Zalmi

MUMBAI: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday denied that it proposed a three-match series against current Pakistan Super League (PSL) Champions Peshawar Zalmi.

According to media reports earlier, KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan had contacted Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi and proposed a three match series between the two teams.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore, however, said, “There is absolutely no truth in it. We categorically deny this.”

Mysore added, “I just had a word with Shah Rukh and he told me that he has been so busy shooting these days that he didn’t even know that any such league was happening in Pakistan or Dubai let alone calling any franchise owner and congratulating him on winning the tournament.”

After media reports circulated, Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi also denied the speculations. He said that they always welcome cricket for peace but there is no truth about the matches but just speculations.

We always welcome cricket for peace ,but there is no truth about @KKRiders & @PeshawarZalmi matches just speculations.Verily respect for 🏏

— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) March 9, 2017

It should be noted that Peshawar Zalmi trounced Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs to be crowned Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 champions.

Kolkata Knight Riders has won the cash-rich Indian Premier League twice. Their first win came in 2012 as the side beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets. The side won their second IPL title in 2014 by beating Kings XI Punjab by three wickets.

Peshawar Zalmi and Kolkata Knight Riders have some of the most world renowned cricketers to their side.

The lineup of Peshawar, led by Darren Sammy, include Shahid Afridi, Eoin Morgan, Marlon Samuels, Mohammad Hafeez, Chris Jordan and Wahab Riaz.

Kolkata Knight Riders also consists of many known players including Darren Bravo, Chris Lynn, Gautam Gambhir (captain), Andre Russell, Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Sunil Narine.

Pakistan and India have not played a single bilateral series since 2012 due to political tensions between the two South Asian countries.

However, they have played against each other in limited overs international tournaments. They will also clash with each other in their ICC Champions Trophy fixture at Birmingham in summer this year.

Pakistan Super League, being held in United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the security concerns, returned home as the final of its second edition was played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on 5th March, 2017.

The foreign players, which came to Pakistan, had expressed their satisfaction over the security measures taken in the country for the final between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.