Zimbabwe’s cricket team is in Pakistan, the first Test-playing nation to visit the country in six years.
Thousands of security personnel were deployed as the team were taken from Lahore airport to a city hotel.
Pakistan has hosted no top-level international cricket since Sri Lanka’s team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore in 2009. Six policemen died.
Zimbabwe and Pakistan will play two T20 matches and three one-day internationals starting on Friday.
Pakistan have named two uncapped players for the T20 games – all-rounder Imad Wasim, who was born in Swansea, Wales, and opener Nauman Anwar.
Fast bowler Mohammad Sami has been recalled, as has former captain Shoaib Malik, but there is no place for spin bowler Saeed Ajmal.
The 15-man squad also sees batsman Umar Akmal return after failing to impress in the Cricket World Cup and being left out of the recent tour of Bangladesh.
The International Cricket Council has refused to send any match officials to Pakistan for the series with Zimbabwe because of security concerns.
A driver was killed along with the six policemen who died in the 2009 militant attack. Seven Sri Lankan players were wounded, causing shock around the world.
The first T20, to be played on Friday, is sold out amid a wave of jubilation among cricket fans across Pakistan, reports the BBC’s M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad.
Pakistan Cricket Board officials received the Zimbabwe players at Lahore airport with garlands.
“This is a happy occasion. I am grateful to the Zimbabwean government which made this tour possible,” PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told Pakistan TV. BBC
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
