A large number of fans took to the social media websites – Twitter and Facebook –to share their feelings, excitement and predictions of the first ODI being played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Hashtags such as “#CricketComesHome, #1stODI, #PakVsZim, #AzharAli” were a common sight of Twitter top trends, showing involvement of thousands of fans in the Pak-Zim ODI series.
Zimbabwe is the first major team to tour Pakistan since terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009 suspended all international cricket in the country.
Massive security continued to be deployed at the stadium and teams, with a sell-out 27,000 crowd expected to watch the match.
The next two matches will be played on Friday and Sunday — also in Lahore.
— LIVE UPDATES —
Congratulations to team Pakistan. Win is a Win….. #PakvsZim #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/6QEf7m6RtG
— Muhammad Wasim (@MuhammadWasim77) May 26, 2015
Azhar Ali's first win as ODI captain. That too at his home ground. What a moment. #PakvsZim #CricketComesHome
— Aman. – امن (@LalaLoyalist) May 26, 2015
Live from the stadium. #Cricketcomeshome #PakvsZim pic.twitter.com/zvmRoDEumC
— Ghalib Khalil (@ghalibkhalil) May 26, 2015
Team dugouts #CricketComesHome #PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/crboBu5DQ6
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) May 26, 2015
Picture of the day! #PakvsZim pic.twitter.com/sIrTHbfCtk
— Untold Pak History (@sheenaabidashah) May 26, 2015
Message to #India from Pakistani crowd at Qaddafi Stadium #Lahore during #PakvsZim match. pic.twitter.com/2T6XqXz2tp
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) May 26, 2015
Sania Mirza happy at Shoaib’s ton
Allhamdulillah @realshoaibmalik so happy for you .. Belief does wonders .. pic.twitter.com/blP4NNr6vQ
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) May 26, 2015
#Models @CybilChowdhry and @nooraybhatti at #PakvsZim 1st #ODI supporting #TeamGreen #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/HX07nLrmWT
— Ammara Hikmat (@AmmaraHikmat) May 26, 2015
Azhar Ali & Mohammad Hafeez set the platform as Pakistan score 375/3 in the 1st ODI: https://t.co/syMlHUoym8 #PakvZim pic.twitter.com/tyr2uZQMC1
— ICC (@ICC) May 26, 2015
Happiness is: To Play on Home Ground infront of Home Crowd… #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/ifPDMSBZAl — Shafqat (@Shafky) May 26, 2015
50 up for @realshoaibmalik..! Well played..! #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/DpuVHN9VlP
— Annas Iqbal (@Annasiqbal001) May 26, 2015
#PAKvZIM That wicket has ignited the noise in the stands.Jeeve Jeeve Zimbabwe chants being heard from Gaddafi stadium pic.twitter.com/RlbQ6Pfofu
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) May 26, 2015
Video features a policeman scalping match tickets outside Gaddafi Stadium goes viral
Exclusive Video of Police Officer Selling tickets in black
#GreensLetsRock Your presence today spoke volumes. Thankio for all the support!! Match is going to be interesting! pic.twitter.com/hrrJNKg4Zw
— Mr.Safian PTI (@jrambo0010) May 26, 2015
There is no fears and jeers just tears and cheers #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/OIusDIChWz — Cotton Candy (@AnumMohsinnn) May 26, 2015
Watch out India and ICC. its not Lords and Melbourne. its Qaddafi Stadium Pakistan #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/B0OuCkCPa5
— Cotton Candy (@AnumMohsinnn) May 26, 2015
A terrorist nation?No.just a loving,peace seeking nation hungry for smiles,and we have shown it. #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/ZbXGtPQV3k — mr_irfan (@sajjad_irfan) May 26, 2015
A terrorist nation? No. Just a loving, peace seeking nation hungry for smiles, and we’ve shown it. #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/4eQhKdg7ks”
— sumairajamil (@real_sumaira) May 26, 2015
Record opening partnership in ODIs at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.. #PakvsZim — Jawaid (@jawaidsays) May 26, 2015
Good luck team green,ODI return to pak aswel,hope u guys will make it more memorable by winning it #CricketComesHome #PakvsZim @TheRealPCB
— sohail tanveer (@sohailmalik614) May 26, 2015
Hafeez boom boom six..!!! #GreensLetsRock pic.twitter.com/zEwrmb2c1W — Annas Iqbal (@Annasiqbal001) May 26, 2015
“It’s an emotional feeling for me to play in my home ground for the first time in international cricket.” : Azhar Ali #PakvsZim
— PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) May 26, 2015
This Is Azhar Ali’s 1st ODI At Home & He Scored 50 In It, And How Amazing Would It Be If He Converts It To 100. #PakvsZim #GreensLetsRock — Mr. Khan (@Myself_Basit) May 26, 2015
PAK 114/0 (20.0ov) Azhar Ali*60(62) Hafeez*48(58) Pak must beat Zim 3-0 to keep alive their hoper for the Champions Trophy 2017. #PAKvZIM
— Mehwish (@TheMehwish) May 26, 2015
#Latest Pic of Champ @iamAhmadshahzad #PakvsZim pic.twitter.com/s4JKlRrDCY — AHMADBIGGESTFAN❤ (@ShahzadiAreesha) May 26, 2015
What a shot by Azhar Ali.. ☺ #GreensLetsRock. pic.twitter.com/hbII3tWRWB
— Annas Iqbal (@Annasiqbal001) May 26, 2015
Azhar Ali should calm down a bit ,shouldn’t be rushing through his inning ,still have plenty of overs to bat chill yaaar! #GreenLetsRock — Dervish (@Nabeelitski) May 26, 2015
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI #PAKvsZIM Click here for live updates: https://t.co/5EAF9EK5bC pic.twitter.com/J8VasnXsHg
— ARY Sports (@ARYSports_Web) May 26, 2015
1st ODI in Pakistan after 6 years 🙂 #CricketComesHome — Fahad Mustafa (@fahadmustafa26) May 26, 2015
#PAKvZIM All set then for the 1st ODI,boys are ready to represent the flag once more! #cricketthewinner pic.twitter.com/7o0Ba4iCg4
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) May 26, 2015
Azhar Ali and zimbabwe captain with the trophy✌️✌️ pic.twitter.com/vjs1MEgB9f — ❤Ahmad Shahzad Web❤ (@fanclubofAS_19) May 25, 2015