Pakistani legends ecstatic on Test cricket's return
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With Test cricket returning to Pakistan after 10 years, Pakistan legends have thanked PCB and Sri Lankan cricket equivocally for making the return of Test cricket possible. Pakistan last hosted a Test match in 2009 that followed the dramatic and tragic fallout of Sri Lankan players being attacked.
Test cricket is returning to Pakistan after 10 long years and it has given immense joy to the people of the cricket-loving nation. Sri Lanka last played a Test in Pakistan before the tragic incident of Sri Lankan Players being ambushed by 12 armed men while their journey towards the Gaddafi stadium took place.
Since that tragedy in 2009, Pakistan has been like a pied cuckoo bird waiting for a drop of cricket to return in the barren land. With teams like Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka flying to Pakistan to play limited-overs cricket in the recent past, it was only a question of ‘when’ for the reappearance of the longest format in the country.
Pakistani Legends have termed the return of Test cricket as ‘a great occasion’ with the likes of Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik coming to the fore and congratulating PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) for their good work in making this event happen.
“It is indeed a great occasion, Pakistan is a sporting nation and we love cricket. Sri Lanka team coming to Pakistan for Test matches is a big achievement and fantastic news for cricket fans who can see their heroes play in front of them. I have some wonderful memories of playing cricket in Pakistan, I really hope this series will turnout well and we will see some good quality Test cricket which will be enjoyed by all,” former Pakistan batsman Yousuf commented.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi thanked the Sri Lankan team and their Board for their positive response to PCB’s request.
“I would like to thank the Sri Lanka cricket board for sending their team for the Test series, and I also want to thank the PCB for their efforts in ensuring the series takes place in Pakistan,” Afridi exclaimed.
Former skipper Shoaib Malik, who featured in Pakistan’s last home Test in 2009 said, “Test cricket coming back to Pakistan is quite an emotional moment for me. When I retired from red-ball cricket, I knew I was letting go, at a certain level, the essence of cricket. I knew Test cricket will return to Pakistan Inshallah but now that it’s here, I’m feeling very emotional.”
Sri Lanka will be playing a two-match Test series against Pakistan with the first Test starting from tomorrow (11 Dec) in Rawalpindi. The second Test will be played in Karachi.
