Darren Sammy to be given honourary citizenship on March 23, PCB

Darren Sammy, West Indian cricket star and captain of Peshawar Zalmi, will be given the highest civil award Nishan-e-Pakistan as well as the honourary citizenship of Pakistan by President Arif Alvi on March 23, announced Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday.

PCB’s media department in a tweet announced that citizenship will be conferred on Sammy for his “invaluable contribution to cricket in Pakistan”.

Earlier Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi’s owner, Javed Afridi, had said that he is looking to attain an honorary citizenship for the side’s skipper Darren Sammy.

“We have requested for the honorary citizenship of Pakistan for Daren Sammy. The application is currently at President’s table,” Afridi said while talking to Cricket Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Saint Lucian cricketer while talking to the same news outlet said that his association with Pakistan did not need to be justified with a passport.

“For me whether I have a passport or not, I think my contribution to this country is all from within. I don’t need a passport to associate myself with this country,” Sammy said.

“It is not just me but all of the guys that have come here and showed there support, be it the World XI or other teams, have played a massive role in bringing back international cricket to Pakistan.”

The 36-year-old cricket star has been instrumental for the return of international cricket in the country and according to Peshawar Zalmi’s owner in recognition for Sammy’s services he should be awarded citizenship.