"Our motto was to bring back smiles in Peshawar and in Pakistan and we did it" : Darren Sammy

[Muhammad10]

"Our motto was to bring back smiles in Peshawar and in Pakistan and we did it" : Darren Sammy

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Darren Sammy "this was more than just a game of cricket. Our motto was to bring back smiles in Peshawar & in Pakistan & we did it" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSLFinal?src=hash">#PSLFinal</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/838467180727529473">March 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Darren Sammy "I'm glad I came to Pakistan to experience this atmosphere in Lahore. Today cricket was the winner" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PslFinalLahore?src=hash">#PslFinalLahore</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/838467927976325122">March 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[s.h.a.k]

Massive respect for Shahid Afridi for convincing Sammy to come and play in Lahore if they get to the final.
He has his ups and downs but Afridi is probably the most patriotic individual you can meet.

 

[KyoOne]

Top bloke, Darren Sammy!

 

[s.h.a.k]

Before we got to final, my good friend Lala Afridi told me you must come to Lahore: Darren Sammy

Darren Sammy: Before we got to final, my good friend Lala Afridi told me Bro if we get to the final you must come to Lahore and play, it will be good for me and be good for my country.
I would like to thank him for giving me the captaincy.
Big up to Shahid Afridi for helping me make my decision to come over here.

 

[msb314]

It seems like Darren Sammy is trying too hard to score browny points.

I appreciate the fact that he chose to come to Pakistan but just needs to calm down. Well deserved victory for the Zalmi and he should look forward to celebrating with his teammates enjoying the night out.

 

[PakLFC]

Darren being the captain of the tournament winners deserves to be overjoyed. He had the guts to visit Pakistan when so many other international Cricketers didn't, let him enjoy the moment. Stop giving Afridi credit for everything, I am sick and tired of hearing his name now. This retired old Cricketer is history at international level, thank God for that. Why will you people not accept it and let it go?

 

[www787]

It seems like Darren Sammy is trying too hard to score browny points.

I appreciate the fact that he chose to come to Pakistan but just needs to calm down. Well deserved victory for the Zalmi and he should look forward to celebrating with his teammates enjoying the night out.

Rather, it looks like you are criticizing for the sake of criticism when there is no criticism for him to say what he had.

 

[Indiafan]

It seems like Darren Sammy is trying too hard to score browny points.

I appreciate the fact that he chose to come to Pakistan but just needs to calm down. Well deserved victory for the Zalmi and he should look forward to celebrating with his teammates enjoying the night out.

Nah he is always like this. Wears his heart on his sleeve, loves playing the leagues, loves people generally. An all round top guy and always fun

 

[MenInG]

Darren Sammy, the two-time World Twenty20-winning West Indian captain, hoped the successful conduct of the final of the Pakistan Super League would bring good news for cricket-starved Pakistan.

Sammy led Peshawar Zalmi to the PSL title after a 58-run defeat of Quetta Gladiators at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday (March 5), after doubts had surfaced over foreign players visiting Lahore following two deadly bomb blasts last month.

Sammy was one of nine foreign players (four from Peshawar and five from Quetta) who finally agreed to play the final after persuasion from their team owners.

Asked if he would urge foreign teams to visit Pakistan, Sammy said: “That will be a big statement but what I could tell you is that it felt like playing in St Lucia, just like playing in India or anywhere else in the world.

“That’s why I said that I will toss (as home captain). Today I think cricket was the winner and we showed that we can come here. All the players enjoyed coming here and the fans were really happy.”

Sammy, who led West Indies to World Twenty20 titles in 2012 and 2016, termed the victory in the final as a top achievement.

“Any final is important and this one is right up there because of the conditions that we won in and the reasons for which we were here and the people involved in the team.

“Thanks to the owner of the team and the organisers for creating such an exciting tournament,” added Sammy. “Tough luck to Sarfraz Ahmed (the Quetta skipper) on losing yet another final. It’s a good day for us as a team.”
Sammy admitted that there had been doubts and fears before coming to Pakistan, a country from where teams have stayed away due to security fears.

“When you are not in the place, you always have your doubts, you get different views and opinions. Like I said, Javed Afrid (the Peshawar owner) and Shahid Afridi convinced me.

“When I talked to my mother, she said ‘Boy go down and play and I am on my knees praying for you’ and my wife said the same thing, all the boys made the decision.”

Sammy said he was glad to be part of a good cause. “We were part for something that was for a good cause. I have said this before and now I say that the fans here (in Pakistan) deserve to see their players play, which they have not seen for a while.”

Sammy said he felt as secure as anywhere in the world. “I am glad that I came and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the security guys, which I have not seen before, and I hope this is a step in the right direction where things could happen. It’s a small step we got to take to get to the place where we want to reach. I am glad to have come here and I am sure other players have the same view.”
Sammy backed out on his promise to shave off all players’ heads if they won the title, just like India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni did after his team went all the way in the 2011 World Cup at home.

“The owner didn’t want to lose his hair, so I will let it pass and will celebrate it the West Indian way,” promised Sammy.

Dawid Malan, the England batsman, also said he enjoyed visiting Pakistan. “Darren said that us is a team and we are a family, so we must go,” he observed. “As soon as Darren said he was going, we also followed. The PCB too gave us assurances.”

http://m.wisdenindia.com/full-story.php?category=News&id=244582

 

[the Great Khan]

Sammy is a legend. And for me an Honourary Pakistani. What he did for Pakistan cricket can never be forgotten. The quote about his mother and wife is also indicative of a strong upbringing..Darren Sammy you sir are a true legend!!

 

[Syed1]

Sammy has done more for Pakistan cricket than half of our own "legends"

 

[todfod 11]

PcB should do more for a guy like Sammy. In world cricket he does not get the respect he deserves. He is a great bloke to chat with as well.

 

[Hasan123]

I think you did it as well Darren!!!! He has done a lot for Pakistan cricket by going to Lahore, certainly amongst Pakistan fans he won't be forgotten.