After six years of long and dark night of ban, Pakistan is all set to experience the dawn and the rise of international cricket with heart-whole. The fans are so enthusiastic for this series that all the tickets for first T20 match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, while 75% tickets for the second contest have already been sold out. It proves that nation has welcomed this occasion as a festival. They are ecstatic, elated and overjoyed.
Where there spectators are restless for the high time, the players are also over the moon for this historic series. Let us have a look what they have to say about the cricket carnival.
The prince of millions of cricket fans, the world class all-rounder, the skipper of Pakistani T20 squad, BOOM BOOM Shahid Khan Afridi (laala) expressed his views while talking a news agency in Pakistan. Here is what he said.
“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.”
While newly appointed One-day cricket team captain 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.
“I am ecstatic at the return of cricket to Pakistan,” Ali told AFP. “It will be a special day for player like me who have not played before their home crowds and don’t know the taste of playing on our grounds.”
“I pray that this tour goes without any problem so that more and more teams come and play on our grounds,” he added.
While talking about young talent how come we forget about the young gun of Pakistan batting lineup? The aggressive middle order batsman, the youngest of Akmal brothers, Umer Akmal who, after his stunning knocks in Super Eight T20 Cricket Tournament made a comeback to the team, is restless to step into Gaddafi Stadium in front of his home crowd in Lahore.
“I can’t wait to walk out in front of the Lahore crowd wearing the green of Pakistan. I’m sure it’ll be a special feeling”
He further said “I thank the Zimbabwe team for this tour & hope it’s the start of international cricket returning permanently to Pakistan”
“Business increases and children are motivated when international cricket is played in the country,” said the ever-smiling and ever-young legendary batsman Younis Khan.
The former skipper further said young players who became part of the squad in 2009 had never had the opportunity to play at home.
The finest all-rounder Hafeez said that the people of Pakistan had missed international cricket. “I am extremely happy that this (Zimbabwe) series will be played in Pakistan. Pakistan is a safe country and we will make sure there are no shortcomings in hospitality.”
This is the golden opportunity for Pakistan to revive international cricket permanently in the country and it is also the responsibility of people to make the series successful so other teams would not refuse for Pakistan tour.
By improving the security conditions, government can open the doors of international cricket to Pakistan, It is also necessary to improve our cricket so that the cricketing nations can’t refuse for visiting Pakistan.
By: Ahmed Raza
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