Pakistan welcomed international cricket after a lengthy lay-off this week. A power-packed World XI captained by South African star Faf du Plessis landed in Lahore - Pakistan’s cultural capital - on Monday for a three-match T20 series. Packed crowds at Qaddafi Stadium - which once hosted the 1996 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and Australia - showed how much they have missed out on watching the players and teams playing on Pakistani soil.
With the short series tantalizingly poised at 1-1 following a win by Pakistan on Tuesday and World XI the next day, the stage is set for an explosive finale at the same venue today. Filling up cricket venues has never been an issue in Pakistan, once a powerhouse in cricket, and it won’t come as a surprise if we see a full-house at Qaddafi Stadium for the series decider.
Pakistan, devoid of international cricket following the unfortunate terror attack on the Sri Lankan Test squad in March 2009, is one nation that deserves to have regular cricket on its soil. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) along with the game’s ruling body the International Cricket Council (ICC) have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to put together this series.
Pakistan, who promised head-of-state security for the series, have spared no effort to keep the players and fans safe during the three-match series.
It has been reported that around 9,000 police officers and paramilitary forces have been on duty for all the games, cordoning off the team’s hotels and stadium. But the presence of such heavy security did not dampen the spirit of the cricket fans who turned for the two games in large numbers. After the first clash, won by Pakistan on Tuesday, Islamabad-based Imtiaz Gul summed up when he said: “I don’t care which team wins because we want to prove to the cricketing world that it’s safe to play in Pakistan.” Mohammad Sarwar, a local lawyer, added: “I simply want to see star players in action and these strict security arrangements do not bother me at all.”
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed thanked the crowd for showing their support for both teams as did Du Plessis, playing on Pakistan soil for the first time. Pakistan recently announced that Sri Lanka are due to play a Twenty20 in October. That game will be followed by the West Indies who are due to play a mini-series of three Twenty20s in November.
That’s the message PCB is keen on spreading and not without reason. International cricket family must ensure that Pakistan - World Cup champions in 1992, T20 World Cup winners in 2009 and 2017 Champions Trophy title holders - continue to host teams in the future also.
