On This Day In 2017: International Cricket Returned to Pakistan After a Gap of 8 Years – News18

Pakistan marked the return of international cricket to the country with a T20I series against World XI. The three-match series, named the ‘Independence Cup’, comprised three games and the matches were held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The first T20I was played on this day (September 12) in 2017. It was a historic occasion for Pakistan cricket. Before these three T20Is, the country hosted just one bilateral series against Zimbabwe since 2009. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lost the hosting rights following attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.

Eight years later, a T20I series was organised where a team featuring some big players from other countries would compete against Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Pakistan. South African batter Faf du Plessis was the captain of the visiting side. Some other Proteas stars like David Miller, Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir were part of World XI.

Pakistan kicked off the home series on a positive note, defeating World XI by 20 runs in the first T20I. Babar Azam was the star of the match. The Pakistan batter scored 83 runs off 52 balls, hitting ten boundaries and two sixes.

Powered by Babar Azam blazing knock, the hosts produced a mammoth total of 197 in 20 overs. Tim Paine, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis made some efforts for World XI but ultimately finished their innings with 177 runs. The visitors bounced back in the second T20I and claimed a seven-wicket victory.

The excitement among the Pakistani fans was at the highest level during the third T20I as the winners of the game were slated to lift the Independence Cup. Over 25,000 spectators were, reportedly, in attendance in Lahore to watch the historic clash.

The PCB organised a felicitation ceremony during the innings break. Two icons of Pakistan cricket team– Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq were— honoured at the event and the crowd gave them a standing ovation.

Pakistan batted first in the third T20I and scored 183 runs in 20 overs at the loss of four wickets. Ahmed Shehzad scored 89 runs off 55 balls and his knock featured eight boundaries and three sixes. Babar Azam once again demonstrated his excellent batting but missed out on a half-century by just two runs.

World XI had lost three wickets in the first five overs, with Hasan Ali shining with the new ball. David Miller and Thishara Perera tried to rescue the innings for World XI down the order. Each batter scored 32 runs but could not survive longer. In the end, the World XI fell 33 runs short of the target and Pakistan won the series 2-1.