For the first time since a terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009, Test cricket returns to Lahore on Monday, with the Pakistan vs Australia series finale featuring a winner-take-all format.
Pakistan’s second-largest city and its Gaddafi Stadium have not host a Test match since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus. Which killed six security personnel and two civilians.
It pushed international cricket out of Pakistan. Forcing the national team to play on neutral ground, primarily in the United Arab Emirates.
Australia, on the other hand, is touring the country for the first time since 1998. And the series is on a knife’s edge after two thrilling Tests that ended in draws.
Pakistan will be full of confidence after a thrilling draw in Karachi last time out. With skipper Babar Azam hitting a career-best 196 and vice captain Mohammad Rizwan remaining unbeaten on 104.
In Karachi, Australia appear to be in command, but after gaining a big 408-run lead, skipper Pat Cummins did not enforce the follow-on, leaving them to toil for 171.4 overs. The second-longest fourth innings in history.
Cummins downplayed the fatigue factor.
He said after the thrilling second Test, which followed a dull first match in Rawalpindi. “We know what we’ve signed up for.”
PAK vs AUS: Lahore Makes A Touching Return For The Decider Of The Pakistan vs Australia Test Series
“Everything will be put to the final test. We’ve got plenty of time to get back on our feet.”
Despite a heavy workload, Australia’s spin attack is likely to be tweak, and pacer Mitchell Starc is likely to play.
None of the current Pakistan players have played a Test at the Gaddafi stadium. But it will be a homecoming for Azam, who is 27 years old.
Azam was a ball boy for Pakistan when they played South Africa in Johannesburg in 2007. He was born nearby.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the Lahore native say.
“I can’t explain how good it feels to play in front of your audience and have them cheer you on.”
“We’re overjoyed that cricket has returned, and we’re up against such a strong team here.”
Local umpire Ahsan Raza will officiate a Test for the first time since surviving the terror attack in 2009.
The 47-year-old, who was a reserve umpire at the time, was critically wounded after being shot in the back. He had to recover for six months before he could resume his umpiring career.
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Teams (from):
PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Hasan Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Naseem Shah, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali,
Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Mark Steketee, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Tv umpire: Asif Yaqoob (PAK)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
