SriLanka’s return to Pakistan with a near full squad, 10 years after an attack on their team bus, carries significance beyond the results of the two-Test series being held in Rawalpindi.
And as the series begins today, people are already celebrating!
I welcome Test Cricket back to Pakistan. Specially, to my city Rawalpindi.
When your players play at home, they become heroes, this is what inspires a young generation to take up a sport and idolize greatness.#PAKvSL #Rawalpindi— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) December 11, 2019
Thank you SriLanka:
When I visited Pakistan in 2017 I thought Test cricket was at least five years away. But due to the brilliant efforts of the PCB and the Pakistani government, today Test cricket has come home.
Credit also to Sri Lanka for being the ones to prove that Pakistan is safe.
👏👏👏
— Dennis Perth Pindi (@DennisCricket_) December 11, 2019
The only ‘now and then’ transformation we need to see!
start of the end of the
decade decade#PAKvsSL#CricketComesHome
Thanks #Srilanka
Fawad Alam
Abid Ali#Pakistan #Cricket pic.twitter.com/qwWe9EFC8e— Tabish 🇵🇰 (@tabishkafili) December 11, 2019
It was a dream coming true for some:
Happiest morning to wake up, Test Cricket returned in Pakistan & Rawalpindi is a dream come true . #CricketComesHome #PAKvSL
— Adnan Rajput (@BeczItsRajput) December 11, 2019
People gave the team a very warm welcome:
A Warm Welcoem Back To Our Dear SL Tigers ❤ @OfficialSLC 🇱🇰🏏 . Test Cricket Back To Home 🇵🇰 #PAKvsSL #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/NhwgSVUVB9
— Saلmاn Khاn🇵🇰 (@Salman_khan45) December 11, 2019
It took us a lot of time, but we’re finally there:
Now we can say International Cricket completely Returns to Pakistan…
2015 – Zimbabwe (ODI & T20)
2017 – World XI & Srilanka (T20)
2018 – West Indies (T20)
2019 – SL (ODI & T20) SL (Test)#PAKvSL #Pakistan#Rawalpindi #CricketComesHome— Cric Bazar (@theCricBazar) December 11, 2019
Many shared how a lot has changed in the last 10 years:
From 2009 to 2029 A lot has changed in last 10 Years#CricketComesHome
— Persona Non Grata (@ReverseTweep) December 11, 2019
The excitement was next level!
I can’t remember the last time I was this excited for a Test match to begin. It feels like the end of a long and emotionally difficult journey for Pakistani fans and, hopefully, the start of a new chapter that will see us host Test cricket regularly! #PAKvSL
— Imran Ahmad Khan (@imranahmadkh) December 10, 2019
Yeh cheez!
#PAKvsSL
In 2009 srilankan players survive in terrorist attack and left us helpless.
In 2019 srilankan players again came to help us by bringing Test cricket in Pakistan.#ThankYouSrilanka #testcricket #CricketComesHome #Pakistan— Raaja Wajid (@RaajaWajid) December 11, 2019
People were excited to see if Pakistan wins:
Just a Reminder :
SL Have Never Lost a Test Series In PAK Since 1991,Since then They Won 2 & 2 Series Were Drawn.
In Last 5 Test Series :
SL WON 3 ( 2012/14/17 )
PAK WON 1 ( 2015 )
DRAW 1 ( 2013 )#PAKvsSL #PAKvSL #Rawalpindi #CricketComesHome— Mani 🇵🇰 (@ManiTweets14) December 11, 2019
Taras gaye the!
The moment that Pakistan cricket has been waiting for. After 3935 days, Test cricket returns to Pakistan #PAKvSL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/4x8RQc6dP4
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 11, 2019
Fans were excited!
As a cricket fan I'm too much excited to see cricket is back home at Pakistan. 10 years was a very very long period, Thank u team Sri Lanka, u people are the best ❤️#CricketComesHome #PAKvSL
— Mirza Abdul Moiz (@ohhmygoditsme) December 11, 2019
It even had the interest of people who don’t like cricket in general:
Cricket matches do not fit in my daily to do list these days, even not the World Cup or high voltage encounters but, i kept this #PAKvsSL test in my mind. Watching stars playing at home soil is a sheer bliss & a great feeling. #Rawalpindi #CricketComesHome
— Muhammad Daim Fazil (@DaimFazil) December 11, 2019
Ooof ❤
It's here! Goosebumps!!#CricketComesHome #PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/NzlFInNWth
— Tim Hortons (@Timm_Hortons) December 11, 2019
We’re back!
Hi!!! World are you watching?
Hi!!! Enemies of #Pakistan are you watching?
What's happening in Rawalpindi…. #CricketComesHome #PAKvsSL #Cricket #SriLanka #ICC #PakistanZindabad— Awais Khan (@Khana_badosh_ak) December 11, 2019
Absolutely historic:
A historic day for Pakistan cricket. Alhamdulillah cricket returns home. Good luck to both teams #PAKvsSL#CricketComesHome
— ایم ایس عادل (@ShafiqueAdil) December 11, 2019
We sure do:
Yes finally, i can't be more happy.
Alhumduliah the good days are back, Alhumduliah we left those shitty days behind.YOU DESERVES THIS PAKISTAN. #CricketComesHome
— Momina Sarwar 🇵🇰 (@iamhafeeezgirl) December 11, 2019
Go green!
Hey Test cricket, we missed you badly here! Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium set to host Pakistan’s first Test on home soil in over ten years. #PakvSL pic.twitter.com/qQi8e7XW4p
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 10, 2019
People were also sharing how safe Pakistan used to be, and how it’s all going coming back soon!
Queen Elizabeth II shaking hands with players at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in 1997.#CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/sRwtMuYavi
— Tahir Masood Khan (@TahirMasoodKha7) December 10, 2019
Is there a connection 👀
Sri Lanka haven’t lost any of their last four Test series in Pakistan. Last time Pakistan beat them at home, their captain was Imran Khan who is now Prime Minister. #PakvSL
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 10, 2019
With SriLanka winning the toss and choosing to bat first, what team are you cheering for? Let us know in the comments below!