(MENAFN- Arab Times) Pakistan celebrated international cricket's return after six years with a hard fought five-wicket win against Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international at a packed and security-tight Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
The win doubled the joy for the hosts as the match brought international cricket home for the first time since attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
Strict security was in place with 4,000 policemen on duty, but that did not stop cricket-deprived fans from packing the 27,000 capacity stadium.
Pakistan opener Mukhtar Ahmed hit a maiden half century during his rapid 45-ball 83 to help Pakistan achieve their best Twenty chase in 19.3 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura hit eight boundaries and a six in his 35-ball knock during his career best 54 to lead Zimbabwe to an imposing 172-6 in their 20 overs after electing to bat.
Fans lined up for entry five hours before the start of the match at 7pm local time (1500GMT) and had to go through five check points before entering the stadium.
On the field, Pakistan bettered their highest Twenty20 chase by one run, beating the 172 they chased against Bangladesh at Pallekele in 2012.
Mukhtar, playing only his second international game, gave Pakistan a sound start with an opening stand of 142 with Ahmed Shehzad who made a 39-ball 55 with six boundaries and a six.
Mukhtar hit 12 fours and three sixes before he edged spinner Greame Cremer behind the wicket.
Pakistan also lost Mohammad Hafeez (12), Umar Akmal (four) and Shoaib Malik (seven) in a mini-slump before skipper Shahid Afridi hit the winning boundary in a nervy finish.
Earlier Zimbabwe got off to a flier with opener Hamilton Masakadza (43) and Vusi Sibanda (13) racing to 58 in 6.5 overs before recalled paceman Mohammad Sami dismissing both off succesive deliveries.
Chigumbura then held the innings together with a rapid 42-run stand for the fifth wicket with Pakistan born Sikander Raza who hit one six and a four in his 13-ball 17.
Sami, playing his first international match for three years, dismissed Raza to finish with 3-36.
Chigumbura ensured Zimbabwe get to a respectable total by hitting three boundaries in paceman Wahab Riaz's 18th over and then hit a six off Sami in the next to reach his second Twenty20 half century.
Chigumbura's previous best T20 score was 53 not out he made against United Arab Emirates at Sylhet in Bangladesh last year.
The second Twenty20 will be played on Sunday followed by three one-day internationals on May 26, 29 and 31 - all in Lahore.
Pakistan president Mamnoon Hussain opened proceedings by shaking hands with both sets of players as the crowd rose to a glittering firework display.
Cast into sporting exile following the 2009 attack, 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 finance, 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 inspiring effect of a hometown audience or pitch.
Pakistan is desperate to revive sporting fixtures at home, and must ensure this is the first of several incident-free tours to restore confidence.
The series, comprising two Twenty20s and three one-dayers, was almost scuppered last week after militants killed 45 minority Shiites in an attack on their bus in Karachi. But Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) finally gave its green light with a week to go, and since then the two sides have exchanged expressions of mutual brotherhood.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said that the revival of international activity in the country was "a matter of great delight"
He added: "The whole nation is celebrating the return and we hope that this series against Zimbabwe will pave way for more countries to come to Pakistan."
Former captain Wasim Akram said: "It's exciting."
"Cricket has suffered badly in Pakistan with no international activity, fans were deprived and grounds were left deserted but I am sure with this small step more cricket will come to our country."
Score Board
LAHORE, Pakistan, May 22, (AFP): Scoreboard in the first Twenty20 international between Pakistan and Zimbabwe played at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
ZIMBABWE:
Masakadza b Sami 43
Sibanda c Ahmed b Sami 13
Coventry? c Ahmed b Riaz 14
E Chigumbura b Riaz 54
Williams c Riaz b Malik 16
Sikandar Raza c Ahmed b Sami 17
Mutumbami not out 4
Cremer not out 2
Extras (lb3, nb 1, w5) 9
Total (for six wkts; 20 overs) 172
Did not bat: T. Panyangara, G. Mpofu, B. Vitori
Fall of wickets: 1-58 (Sibanda), 2-58 (Masakadza), 3-73 (Coventry), 4-100 (Williams), 5-142 (Raza), 6-168 (Chigumbura)
Bowling: Ali 3-0-18-0, Sami 4-0-36-3 (1w), Bhatti 3-0-37-0 (1nb), Riaz 4-0-38-2 (4w), Afridi 3-0-28-0, Malik 3-0-12-1
PAKISTAN:
Mukhtar Ahmed c c Mutumbami b Cremer 83
Ahmed Shehzad c Mutumbami b Williams 55
Mohammad Hafeez c Coverntry b Cremer 12
Shoaib Malik b Panyangara 7
Umar Akmal c Sibanda b Vitori 4
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 3
Shahid Afridi not out 4
Extras: (lb 5) 5
Total: (for five wkts; 19.3 overs) 173
Fall of wickets: 1-142 (Shehzad), 2-144 (Mukhtar), 3-157 (Hafeez), 4-162 (Umar), 5-169 (Malik)
Did not bat: Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami
Bowling: Panyangara 2.3-0-28-1, Vitori 4-0-24-1, Mpofu 3-0-32-0, Williams 4-0-33-0, Cremer 4-0-28-2, Raza 2-0-23-0.
Result: Pakistan won by five wickets
Toss: Zimbabwe
Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Shozab Raza (PAK)
Tv umpire: Ahmed Shahab (PAK)
Match referee: Azhar Khan (PAK)
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