Intro:

Security was high as Pakistan cricket fans gathered outside Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore ahead of the T20 international against Zimbabwe. It is the first time a test-playing team has visited Pakistan in six years.

Script:

Cricket is huge in Pakistan but fans here have been starved of test level international matches for over half a decade because of security concerns. Now the wait is over for those in Lahore as Pakistan faced Zimbabwe in a Twenty-Twenty match...

SOUNDBITE: (English) ,Shezad Iqbal, Pakistan cricket fan:

"It's been six years since any international match have been organised in Pakistan. I am really excited for this and this is very good for the country, a country which has suffered a lot recently, which everybody knows. We are very excited and I came especially for this to watch cricket match and I hope that things will be alright and we will enjoy our match."

He was one of 27,000 spectators who faced rigorous security checks. At least 4,000 police officers and paramilitaries were deployed to help avoid a repeat of the attack by gunmen on Sri Lanka's team coach in 2009. That marked the end of tours here. You imagine Pakistan fans will be content with carrying only ID cards and mobile phones as well as passing at least three security checkpoints if it means test cricket returns here for good.