The cricket is revived in Pakistan after a gap of six years, prompting cricket enthusiasts in Pakistan and beyond to share their jubilation and excitement on the social media.
The hashtag “#CricketComesHome” was enthusiastically used by the fans as it came on top of Pakistan trends of Twitter. While the same hashtag stood at no.5 in the world trend on the social media website.
Cast into sporting exile following the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan team, 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 money, 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 lifting effect of a hometown audience or pitch.
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Finished in Boom Boom Style !!
#CricketComesHome #ThankYouZim pic.twitter.com/8Gv2GhoyQv
— TEAM AFRIDI (@TEAM_AFRIDI) May 22, 2015
“@LalaLoyalist: FULL HOUSEEE! ARE YOU WATCHING THIS, @ICC? ARE YOUUU? #PakvsZim #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/sYHkdO6onV” Top tweet !
— رابعہREHAMKHANKI FAN (@rabiareham1) May 22, 2015
Mukhtar Man of the match & Man of the moment #PAKvZIM #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/Lz5zaf0Lng
— Hamzay Khan (@Half__Fry) May 22, 2015
Amazzzzing ! Congratulations Team Pakistan @TheRealPCB #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/apquK4qdfk
— #CricketComesHome (@Go_Green_Team) May 22, 2015
Brace yourself Lahoris, Ali Zafar is yet to perform. 😉 #CricketComesHome — Haffsah. (@BlogOfHK) May 22, 2015
Congratulations Team Pakistan… 1st victory after 6 years in home ground #CricketComesHome
— Fahad Mustafa (@fahadmustafa26) May 22, 2015
ICC u watching?? U morons refused to send officials, now get this slap! #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/gyY4nqU8Hy — sarwar (@SarwarLawoon) May 22, 2015
Mukhtar rocked as #CricketComesHome
— Naveed (@iNaveedmehmood) May 22, 2015
#PAKvZIM International #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/Hi3vsoklR3 — Fathe (@FatheTiyab) May 22, 2015
Woah. #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/CZDddkM7Ob
— Adil Mirza (@GandiSoch) May 22, 2015
People are crazy to join the #Ghaddafi Stadium to watch this awesome cricket. Where Mukhtar is presenting a Good game. #CricketComesHome — Sajjad Sarwar (@SajjadSarwarPK) May 22, 2015
Pakistan have demolished Zimbabwe bowling #PakvZim #CricketComesHome
— A.A Hussain (@Hu55ain_A) May 22, 2015
Awesome partnership going between Ahmed Shahzad and Mukhtar Ahmed #CricketComesHome #ZIMvPAK — Sayed Osama Naeem (@osama_naseem) May 22, 2015
Boom Boom @AliZafarsays Thank Yew #CricketComesHome #BecauseThisIsPakistan #PAKvZIM #PakvsZim pic.twitter.com/mlrdq5Eflg
— Ayesha.❤️ (@Ayesha_ZaYain) May 22, 2015
Proud moment for Misbah-ul-Haq who keenly watches the match. #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM #Misbah pic.twitter.com/LMoeZTBzU1 — The Aley. (@AleyFarooq) May 22, 2015
I am feeling Awesome. Live Pic from Lahore. #BleedGreen #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/A9G9jSSOzL
— Malik Adil Raza (@MalikAdilRaza) May 22, 2015
Thanks Zimbabwe #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/QYMqMZBxLS — Sawaiz (@sawaizsajid) May 22, 2015
QB supporting team Pakistan #CricketComesHome #PakvsZim #RevivalOfIntCricket pic.twitter.com/4LU98PxozB
— Maan Imran Khan (@MaanImranKhan) May 22, 2015
Zimbabwe 173 runs target against Pakistan in 1st T20I at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. #Pakistan #CricketComesHome — #CricketComesHome (@Paksports) May 22, 2015
#CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/MNG9wGvlk9
— Waqas (@TheWaqasMalik) May 22, 2015
Hamilton Masakadza is bowled out by Mohammad Sami. #CricketComesHome #RevivalOfIntCricket #PakvZim pic.twitter.com/qQjAYLI5Fn — ⓗⓐⓢⓢⓐⓜ™© (@Hassam420) May 22, 2015
Happiness after 7 years, thank you #Zimbabwe cricket. @ZimCricketv @TheRealPCB #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/ap5u1GcBgX
— Paki_Hawaiian (@sami4813552) May 22, 2015
Waisay Indians ki achi khasi jal chuki hy ab tk ##CricketComesHome — Detective Stalker (@AisaBiHotaHy) May 22, 2015
Don’t u dare saying Sarfaraz dhoka nahen dega. . . . . . . . missed 2 stumping chances #PAKvZIM #CricketComesHome
— Ali Jawad Naqvi (@alijawadnaqvi) May 22, 2015
6 years of gap and finally jinx has been broken. Zimbabwe to step in Pakistan after Sri Lanka #CricketComesHome — Abhishek Pokhriyal (@AVi_pOKHRiyAL) May 22, 2015
#CricketComesHome #RoIndiaRo #ThanksZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/Pi9N0c3Yip
— Sher (@SherrKhan21) May 22, 2015
Zimbabwe 73/3 after 8.2 overs as M.Sami and Wahab Riaz strike for Pakistan #CricketComesHome #RevivalOfIntCricket pic.twitter.com/qqxXSWJCaD — Maan Imran Khan (@MaanImranKhan) May 22, 2015
Salute to this man who watch every game at Gaddafi stadium Lahore. #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/dBy121jpuL
— Ahmad Khan (@theamykhan) May 22, 2015
Its the first time ever that Afridi is captaining a home game #CricketComesHome — Faraan Khan (@Faraankhan) May 22, 2015
That moment brought tears in my Eyes, Tears of Happiness #CricketComesHome #DilDilPakistan pic.twitter.com/vkfg6DBVrN
— Sher-Dil© (@SherDil98) May 22, 2015
OMG here too “@Faizaayy: OMGG BEST #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/UHn5Mc8cTj” — FawadoO (@fawadkhan250) May 22, 2015
Ali Zafar ready to rock the crowd #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/FjnktQzzwV
— ❤Ahmad’s Loyal Fan❤ (@Ahmadsclub) May 22, 2015
#CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/SexepIdcwd — Saad Saeed (@SaadSaeed2) May 22, 2015
More Pictures #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/qriRMRQkHy — Mehdi (@SyedRezaMehdi) May 22, 2015
Lahore is ready. #cricketcomeshome. pic.twitter.com/xLHaczFQaM — Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) May 22, 2015
Kids who are going to accompany the players at the opening ceremony. #PakvsZim #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/fS26c7Mbn5 — Aman. – امن (@LalaLoyalist) May 22, 2015
Geared up for an awesome summer of #Cricket in #Pakistan #PAKvZIM #CricketComesHome #TheRealPCB @iamShaniera pic.twitter.com/Ow0Yhwda0u — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) May 22, 2015
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium today pic.twitter.com/bxplwhEUJ0 #RevivalOfIntCricket #CricketComesHome — Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) May 22, 2015
#RevivalOfIntCricket jam packed road before T20 #PakistanVsZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/9TGNFGPzoR — Usman (@uszahid) May 22, 2015
Pakistan team arrives in the stadium to great applause #CricketComesHome #RevivalOfIntCricket pic.twitter.com/TzPb2Rxa5K — Maan Imran Khan (@MaanImranKhan) May 22, 2015
MISBAH! #RevivalOfIntCricket #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM #Cricket pic.twitter.com/iELE6K42Tw — Aleena علینہ (@AnmolAleena) May 22, 2015
Meanwhile Srilankan Cricketer & Commentator Russel Arnol just tweeted. Thankyou Russel! #pakvzim #RevivalOfIntCricket pic.twitter.com/5iZzzGkuD6 — Ali Haider (@AliHa1der) May 22, 2015
#CricketComesHome #RevivalOfIntCricket pic.twitter.com/GdInhrLcj2 — Pakistan Cricket (@PakCricketPCB) May 22, 2015
GroundsMen preparing pitches fr d cricket match series agnst Zimbabwe at GaddafiStadium Lahore #RevivalOfIntCricket pic.twitter.com/jhCKLD7q1x — Saira Khan (@sairakhan55) May 22, 2015
