Indian comedian and actor Kapil Sharma, who was in Dubai to promote Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi ahead of the league's third season, has invited the ire of Indian fans on social media who didn't like Kapil's gesture.
Kapil was slammed on Twitter by many who felt that the stand-up comedian was being "desperate".
"The King of Comedy @KapilSharmaK9 pictured with Peshawar Zalmi's skipper @darensammy88 and chairman @JAfridi10 during #ZalmiNightWithKapil in Dubai earlier tonight. #YellowStorm #HumZalmi #HBLPSL," Peshawar Zalmi said in a tweet.
"Lovely to have kids from @SKMCH interacting and spending quality time with their favourite Peshawar Zalmi stars they are growing up watching on television. It is always a moment of great pleasure to be the reason of these brave kids wearing smiles on their faces. #HumZalmi," franchise chairman Javed Afridi tweeted.
Reacting to the comedian's gesture, a Twitter user called him "desperate" and mentioned how he behaved with his colleagues in drunken state in recent past.
Another user went on to call him Gaddar (traitor) for promoting Pakistan's T20 league.
During his show in Dubai, Kapil made everybody laugh in the light-hearted session as he shared some jokes with renowned names like West Indian bowling all-rounder Darren Sammy, Hasan Ali, all-rounder Haris Sohail, England seamer Chris Jordan and Mohammad Asghar, Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez.
When Kapil asked Zalmi skipper Sammy, "Why do people call you Khan?", he replied, "It's because of Afridi. And also, maybe, because I'm from Peshawar."
Teasing Pakistan wicket-keeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, the comedian said, "You are three brothers; [with] one cousin playing top-level cricket - and you all have kids - it means Pakistan doesn't need any other family in cricket."
Defending champions Peshawar Zalmi's owner Javed Afridi said that he wanted to make his team feel relaxed ahead of the action-packed cricket league.
"Kapil Sharma is the best comedian in our region these days and the players had a great time," the Geo TV quoted Afridi as saying.
The third edition of the PSL will kick-off with Zalmi taking on the newcomers Multan Sultans in the opening game of the tournament at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
The league will span across Dubai and Sharjah before shifting to Pakistan for the final leg.
(With ANI inputs)
