RAWALPINDI: The uncertainties surrounding the Peshawar Zalmi camp in the last several was finally put to rest on Thursday when Darren Sammy relinquished the captaincy to take over head coach-cum-player, according to team’s director of cricket Mohammad Akram.

The announcement to this effect was officially made during a hastily-arranged media conference hours before Peshawar Zalmi’s fixture in the HBL Pakistan Super League against defending champions Quetta Gladiators at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

“This is a mutual decision we have undertaken in the best interest of the Peshawar Zalmi team. Darren will be our new head coach as well as player,” Akram told reporters. “With Darren stepping aside after a successful run as our captain, Peshawar Zalmi will be now led by Wahab Riaz.”

Akram paid tribute to Sammy while stating that the former West Indies all-rounder who captained the region to two ICC World Twenty20 titles in 2012 and 2016 as well skippering Peshawar Zalmi to PSL glory in 2017.

“Darren and I met first in 2016 over a cup of coffee. Since then Darren has been with us and is part of the Zalmi family. His inspiration leadership has had been the key factor behind Peshawar’s phenomenal run in the PSL with three finals on trot,” the ex-Pakistan paceman said.

“We had in our plans long time ago to bring in Darren as the head coach once we feel that he is not contributing as much as the franchise would have wanted from him [as a player]. As of now he’ll be the head coach with the option of playing and I am the director of cricket and the bowling coach.

“I take this moment to offer my thanks to the affable individuals I have ever met and worked with as a player and captain. Peshawar Zalmi owes him a huge debt for keeping our team on the top.”

Sammy, while addressing the media, remarked: “I had a very challenging journey first as a player and then when I became captain. But over the past two years, fitness issues affected my game and I think it is the right time to opt for a change.

“Moreover, I will also have the option to pick myself if I think am fit enough to play. My aim to see young guys coming forward and taking responsibilities as far as the team goes, while to contribute to a different role.”

Answering a query, Sammy made it clear that his playing days are not over. “It takes me five months to get in a state of [playing] fitness nowadays. I may not, perhaps, be playing here [in the PSL] much but I’m still contracted to play back home for St Lucia Zouks [in the Caribbean Premier League].

“As I said earlier that I have always wanted to be try my hand at something more challenging. Having played for so many franchises over the years, this is chance which I’m really looking forward to. As far my relationship with Akram, I have utmost regards and respects for both as professional and as human being. I really like the way he operates and he’s someone that one would love to work with.”

The 36-year-old Sammy has played in 49 matches for Peshawar Zalmi, scoring 691 runs at 25.5 with a best of 48, while knee injuries restricted him to only 26.4 overs from 16 innings when he had bowled and claimed nine wickets at 28.44.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2020