PESHAWAR: Former Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi has extended his support in eradicating the scourge of poppy cultivation from Tirah Valley in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). He made the announcement following a meeting with Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Nazir Butt in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa capital on Wednesday. The Peshawar Zalmi star discussed how drug trade was a menace to residents of the valley. In an audio message, the cricketer said the Shahid Afridi Foundation would help residents cultivate Saffron instead of poppy, which is used in heroin production. Residents cultivate poppy to sustain themselves and the plant is a cash crop for farmers. Afridi’s NGO is involved in various healthcare and education initiatives, among others. Earlier this year, it helped in securing the release of 30 Pakistanis imprisoned in Dubai, UAE.