Pakistan celebrates long-awaited return of Test cricket

The 2009 Lahore attacks changed cricket forever. Ten years later, Pakistan celebrate the return of Test cricket to their true home.

Pakistan enjoyed their first day of Test cricket at home since 2009.

Pace bowler Mohammad Abbas steamed in with a fresh pill towards Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne from the Media Centre end.

Abbas placed the ball on a length, as he typically does, and Karunaratne watchfully defended back down the pitch.

An uneventful dot ball at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, but an important one — it was the first Test delivery in Pakistan for over ten years.

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Pakistan’s previous home Test match was in 2009, also against Sri Lanka. After compiling 606 in the first innings at Lahore, the tourists were confident of securing a rare away victory.

Then on March 3rd, cricket endured one of its darkest days.

Most of the crowd in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has never witnessed Test cricket.

As Sri Lanka’s touring bus approached Gaddafi Stadium on the morning of day three, gunfire rang through the air in Lahore’s Liberty Square.

Wicketkeeper Tillakaratne Dilshan immediately started yelling, “Get down, get down!”

The touring bus had been ambushed by a dozen masked terrorists. Eight civilians were killed and two Sri Lankan players were hospitalised.

“It jolted the entire nation and taught us a very harsh lesson that we cannot take things for granted,” former Pakistani cricketer Rameez Raja told Cricinfo.

The Lahore attack was a dark reminder that cricket can never been hidden from the realities of contemporary society. The sport had lost its innocence.

Most nations have refused to tour Pakistan since, primarily due to security fears — matches were instead scheduled in the United Arab Emirates for “neutral” fixtures.

Shaheen Shah claimed Pakistan’s first wicket at home since 2009.

Ten years on from Lahore, Sri Lanka returns to Pakistan for a two-Test series, which got underway on Wednesday.

Thousands attended the historic match, the crowd full of cricket enthusiasts, many of whom had never witnessed Test cricket.

Young teens danced and cheered in the stands, but nobody enjoyed themselves more than the eleven Pakistanis on the field.

Nobody in Pakistan’s starting XI has ever played a Test in their home country — paceman Naseem Shah was six years old the last time Pakistan hosted a Test match.

Every wicket was cause for celebration — Shaheen Shah Afridi’s searing yorker to Karunaratne in the 31st over was Pakistan’s first Test wicket on home soil this decade. The players exchanged hugs and high-fives as the crowd went ballistic behind them.

The smile on Shah’s face was intoxicating when he snared his first wicket of the match, the second of his Test career.

Chuffed to see Pakistan return to Test Cricket today. #cricket #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/PKLt0zVsWi

— Colin Brazier (@colinbraziersky) December 11, 2019

The moment that Pakistan cricket has been waiting for. After 3935 days, Test cricket returns to Pakistan #PAKvSL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/4x8RQc6dP4

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 11, 2019

Shaheen Afridi takes Pakistan's first Test wicket on home soil for 10 years on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka.#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/mreW4uZQbU

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) December 11, 2019

Before the match, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali called the fixture “a moment to rejoice” for the whole country.

“We thank the Sri Lankan team for coming here. The last Test was also against them so their visit will send a strong message to the world that we need to support each other,” Azhar said.

“Test cricket’s return to Pakistan after ten years is an opportunity for us to get back on the winning track.

“We had a tough series in Australia and the way we lost there was disappointing.

“Moving forward, we see this home series as an opportunity and advantage to turn things around.

“We will try our best to fix our mistakes and improve wherever we had been lacking. We have outstanding talent in our squad. They have potential and, if we implement it, results will be good.”

“It’s a moment to rejoice, not only for the players but the whole Pakistan nation.”

You cannot take cricket away from Pakistanis.
For an entire decade, we did not have test cricket in Pakistan but people did not let their passion for this game die down even a little. The entire nation should feel proud & happy that they didn't give up & today #CricketComesHome

— Abdul Aleem Khan (@aleemkhan_pti) December 11, 2019

So pleased for Pakistan cricket and it's fans as test cricket finally returns to the country. Glad to be involved in this historic moment.

— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) December 11, 2019

- From the Liberty chock to the liberty of Test cricket.
Pakistan waited for a decade!
Indeed a new dawn. #PAKvsSL

— Asif Khan (@mak_asif) December 11, 2019

Both Test matches are part of the World Test Championship, in which Pakistan are pointless after two innings defeats against Australia.

Sri Lanka are coached by Mickey Arthur, who led Pakistan for three years before taking up his role with Sri Lanka last week. Previously, he had also coached Australian and South Africa.

“If someone is with you for so long, he does have a lot of information about you,” Azhar said.

“In cricket these days, we all have a lot of knowledge about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but yet players score runs.

“Mickey does have a lot of insight about us, but we believe that whatever the challenge he will throw at us, we will counter.”

Sri Lanka are 5/202 at stumps on day one at Rawalpindi.

Unfortunately, play on day one finished prematurely, the umpires citing bad light. Regardless, Pakistan will be happy to have restricted Sri Lanka to 5/202 at stumps, a welcome scoreline after their torrid tour of Australia last month.

With AAP