On 19th of May 2015, a foreign international cricket team arrived at Lahore airport to resume international cricket in Pakistan. From the last six years, Pakistani cricket grounds had been waiting for the international cricket to be played inside them and it seems that this wait is going to end soon. In 2009, after terrorists attack on Sri Lankan cricket team doors to international cricket had been closed to Pakistan. All cricket playing nations refused to send their cricket teams in Pakistan due to poor security reasons and terrorism. In this tenure, only Bangladesh showed interest in sending their cricket team to Pakistan but after continuous terror incidents, they reject their proposal. Since then, it is the first time that an international cricket team has arrived in the country suffering from terrorism.
Pakistan has been fighting against terrorism since more than a decade as US announced of cracking down against Al-Qaeda after the destruction of twin World Trade towers in 9/11 attacks. The after effects of participating in this war are terrorism and the state of civil war in country itself. Previous year, terrorists attack on Karachi international airport and in Army Public school shocked the entire world showing the extreme of poor security in Pakistan. Pakistan along with other LEAs have started the operation to eliminate terrorism in whole country which has given some good results. Terrorists have been pushed back to some extent thus bringing improvements in country's security.
Pakistani cricket board assures Zimbabwean cricket board to provide fool proof security to their players and team officials. Pakistani government is providing the security to Zimbabwean team equal to the security of any foreign Head of the state. A security team from the visitors had already analyzed security measures for the series being starting from 22th Of May 2015 and after complete satisfaction gave green light for the visit of cricket team. Although after the brutal Safoora Chowk incidence in Karachi which claimed 46 lives when the 8 armed gunmen opened fires inside a bus of Ismaili community, Zimbabwean government showed concerns over sending their players to Pakistan but after the reassurance of board for security they changed their decision.
The notable thing is that, series will be restricted to Punjab only. Lahore will host all the cricket matches of upcoming series. PCB didn't agree to conduct matches in Karachi because of uncertain conditions of the city.
Pakistani nation and cricket players are passionate to see international cricket coming back to Pakistan. Although Zimbabwe ranks last in international cricket rankings but it is expected that Public will be excited to see their players playing international cricket at home after a long wait. Before this, Pakistan was conducting all its home series in UAE. Though ICC has refused to send its umpires and officials in Pakistan but they have allowed Pakistan to appoint their own for this series.
Zimbabwean team has shown great support for PCB in this state of cricket isolation of the team. Zimbabwe board is considered as the most impoverished cricket board in all cricket playing nations and they needed to play a cricket series with major playing teams for the sake of wealth. Although this might be the reason that they agreed to play in Pakistan when PCB was left alone in ICC on this issue and no one showing interest to play international cricket in Pakistan but no doubt that successful holding of this series with peace will attract others to play in Pakistan too. Hope that PCB successfully finishes this series.
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