International cricketers say they stand with earthquake victims of Türkiye

KARACHI, Pakistan

International cricketers participating in Pakistan's premier cricket league on Saturday expressed solidarity with the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

The cricketers, including Pakistan's captain Babar Azam delivered solidarity messages during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Azam, the world's top player in the Twenty20 format, said that the cricketing community across the world feels the pain of earthquake victims.

"Our players extend their deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and are out to support those who are injured or struggling to recover," Azam, who is leading the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in PSL, said.

Peshawar Zalmi, a former PSL champion, represents the capital city of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

"I request all of you to join hands with us to support our brothers and sisters who have been affected by the massive earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria," Azam added.

Darren Sammy, the Peshawar Zalmi coach and a former captain of West Indies, said in a message that his heart goes out to the quake-hit victims of Türkiye and Syria.

"This message is to all the families who have been affected by the devastating earthquake in Türkiye. We at Peshawar Zalmi want you to know that we are here with you, and to support you," said Sammy, the only captain who won the T20 World Cup twice for West Indies.

"We cannot imagine the pain you are going through but whatever we could do as a Zalmi family we are here for you," he said.

"Stay strong and you will bounce back because you’re strong and powerful but Zalmi is here for you," Sammy maintained.

 ‘Deeply’ sad

Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakibul Hasan said that he is "deeply" sad over the twin earthquakes that hit Türkiye earlier this month.

"We, the Zalmi family, are always with you," he said in his message.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore from England said that he along with his fellow cricketers stand with the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

Pakistani pacers Wahab Riaz and Haris Rauf also expressed solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria at this need of the hour.

Meanwhile, a large number of spectators waved Turkish flags during a PSL match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans in the northeastern city of Multan on Friday to express solidarity with the earthquake victims.

At least 40,642 people were killed in two powerful earthquakes that rocked southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, according to the latest official figures.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa.