Former Test, ODI and T20I batsman Hashim Amla is relishing working with Peshawar Zalmi during the ongoing Pakistan Super League.
Amla ended a prolific international career for South Africa last year – and has since played in the Bangladesh Premier League and coached in the Mzansi Super League. He was recently hired by Zalmi as a batting coach. Pehsawar are priced at 6.50 by bet365 to win the 2020 PSL.
“The Zalmi team has been very warm and welcoming. They are a fantastic franchise to be involved with. They have been very successful in the past. It's still early in the season. We are getting there. We are trying to get a good combination going,” Amla told Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan batsman Kamran Akmal plays for Zalmi. He has the most runs in the history of the PSL – and recently struck a century against the Quetta Gladiators, who are the defending champions.
“Kamran is a fantastic player. He has been great for Pakistan for many years now. He is a wonderful player. The dedication and commitment he has for his batting has been wonderful to see. He is such a dynamic player, who is certainly an asset to have in any team,” added Amla.
Amla on Azam and Sammy
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, meanwhile, is playing for the Karachi Kings. Azam recently led the Kings to triumph over Zalmi with a fine half-century.
“Babar is a wonderful player. I retired fairly recently and I have played with him. Over the last year he has been a wonderful player. He is getting better and better and at a young age that he is at, he will have to go through ups and downs like anybody but he is a great talent and his work ethic is very good,” said Amla.
Amla praised former West Indies captain Darren Sammy. He is the captain of Zalmi, who also have England trio Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone and Liam Dawson.
“Darren has done so much in creating this awareness of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. It is a fantastic honour for him. We joke about how he is now Darren Sammy-stan. It's great for him and I think it is a wonderful initiative,” concluded Amla.
