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  • T20 Match: Pakistan seal comfortable victory against Zimbabwe

    The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be played at Gaddafi Stadium today. Such TV News Grab The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be played at Gaddafi Stadium today.

    It may be a low-key affair in strictly cricketing terms, but excitements ran sky high for Pakistani fans who saw revival of international cricket on the home soil, with Pakistan registering momentous win over Zimbabwean team in the opening T20 match.

    The cricket is revived in Pakistan after a gap of six years, prompting cricket enthusiasts in Pakistan and beyond to share their jubilation and excitement on the social media.

    The hashtag “#CricketComesHome” was enthusiastically used by the fans as it came on top of Pakistan trends of Twitter. While the same hashtag stood at no.5 in the world trend on Twitter.

    Cast into sporting exile following the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan team, Pakistan have incurred financial losses amounting to $120 million by having to play their “home” games on neutral venues like the UAE, according to an official estimate.

    Beyond the money, Pakistan’s younger crop of players — including established batsmen Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, all of whom have played 50 or more internationals — have never experienced the lifting effect of a hometown audience or pitch.

    Squad and match officials

    Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Noman Anwar, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Bilawal Bhatti, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami

    Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams

    Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Shozab Raza (PAK)

    TV umpire: Ahmed Shahab (PAK)

    Match referee: Azhar Khan (PAK)