Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi led his country in welcoming the Zimbabwe team and praised the visitors’ “courage” after they became the first Test-playing nation to visit in six years.
– IPL: Mumbai march into finals with win over Chennai
– Interface Cup: Al Faraa claim crown after beating Danube
– #360cricket: Time to axe Champions League T20
– FOLLOW: Cricket scores around the world LIVE
Zimbabwe arrived early on Tuesday (May 19) under top-level security, and are set to play two Twenty20 internationals on Friday and Sunday followed by three one-day matches on May 26, 29 and 31, all in Lahore.
“I am delighted to see the return of international cricket to Pakistan,” Afridi said.
“It is like the spring of cricket after six years of autumn. The courage of the Zimbabwe team must be praised and they delighted our fans who have been waiting for international cricket for quite some time now.”
Zimbabwe are the first Test team to tour Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009, killing eight people and leading to the suspension of all international cricket in the country.
The tour was almost called off last week after gunmen massacred 45 Shiites in Karachi, but in the end Zimbabwe decided to go ahead.
ODI captain Azhar Ali, who made his debut in 2010 and has never played at home, added it was a dream come true for players like himself.
Dinner hosted by DCO Lahore in honor of @ZimCricketv #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/yTWm8EYBvJ
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) May 19, 2015
“I am elated at the return of cricket to Pakistan,” Ali said. “It will be a special day for players like me who have not played before their home crowds and don’t know how it is to play on our grounds.”
Besides Ali, six other team members – Umar Akmal, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Shafiq and Ahmed Shehzad – have not played in home conditions.
“Our fans have been deprived of watching their stars on their home grounds and this coming series will give inspiration to the young players,” Ali said. “I pray that this tour goes without any problem so that more and more teams come and play on our grounds.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s cricket chief said his team had decided to tour Pakistan because they too had experienced the cost of isolation as the African team embarked on the first series by a Test playing country since 2009.
Speaking at a press conference alongside captain Elton Chigumbura, Ozias Bvute likened Pakistan’s six years without top-flight cricket at home to the removal of Zimbabwe’s Test status from 2005 to 2011.
#PAKvZIM straight into it! First feel of conditions. #cricketthewinner pic.twitter.com/Sxr2jTt9l7
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) May 19, 2015
He said: “For many years Zimbabwe was isolated so therefore we understand the politics of isolation. We’ve therefore said no, isolation is not the right way.”
Zimbabwe’s Test status was removed after senior players quit to protest the sacking of then-captain Heath Streak. The fast bowler was appointed after Andy Flower retired as he was against the policies of the then Robert Mugabe government.
Chigumbura admitted the heightened security, featuring 6,000 policemen, was something new for his team, but said they were focused on cricketing matters.
“Obviously, this is something new for us but we are not worried about that as players and the main thing for us is to play cricket,” he said.
Bvute confirmed there were fears but denied any player was forced to tour.
