Cricket: Turkish players join Pakistan league franchise

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Three young Turkish cricketers, including a woman, have joined as “guest players” a Pakistani league franchise for the upcoming season.

"Three Turkish players will fly with the team to Dubai and witness all the cricketing action and learn from the best," Peshawar Zalmi’s media department said in a statement.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) will begin from Feb. 13, 2019 in the United Arab Emirates.

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

The franchise will also work for the development of cricket in Turkey after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Zalmi Foundation and Turkish sports federation, the statement said. 

On Monday, Peshawar Zalmi's owner Javed Afridi announced to include three Turkish players -- Tunahan Turan, 20, Mehmet Sert, 18, and Yagmur Tasdelen, 24 -- in his team for the next year league. 

"I am very happy and feel proud to become part of Peshawar Zalmi, which is one of the best T20 teams in Pakistan," Turan told Anadolu Agency.

Cricket is not a popular sport in Turkey. However, the Turkish Developing Sports Branches Federation has started efforts to promote cricket in the country.

“I want to show the world that Turkish girls can play cricket which is mostly considered as a men’s sport," Tasdelen said.