Playing days are here again: Pakistan cricket team during their training session on the eve of the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Karachi. PIC/AFP

Even as international cricket resumes in Pakistan today with the Sri Lanka ODI, Australia convey their decision of not touring the beleaguered country in April due to security concerns

Pakistan cricket has been hit hard by terrorism that has plagued the country in recent times. The security fear has caused international cricket to virtually come to a standstill here. In 2008, there was not a single Test played on Pakistani soil. The Australia series was cancelled, ditto the India series and so was the ICC Champions Trophy.

The last ODI series was in July 2008 the Asia Cup.

It is a huge relief to see international cricket resume here today with Sri Lanka playing the first of the three one-dayers against Pakistan at the National Stadium.

The craze is not the same as an India-Pakistan series but more than the general public, the players are happy that they are getting some international cricket.

Better than nothing
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas said it was a positive start. "It's a good opportunity for us. It is unfortunate that the Indian team is not coming, but it is good that some team has come. It's a good start for Pakistan cricket," Zaheer told MiD DAY.

The response for tickets has been slow so far. It is also a working day and only 3,000 to 4,000 tickets have been sold out of 32,000 seats at Karachi's National Stadium till yesterday. But the association is hopeful that the ticket sales will pick up on the match day.

However, not everyone is satisfied with the security situation in Pakistan. On the eve of the first ODI, there was some bad news also.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt revealed that Australia has informed them that they would not be playing the one-day series in Pakistan in April. Australia were scheduled to play five ODIs and one Twenty20 game.

The PCB has accepted the fact that it will be difficult to convince Australia to play in Pakistan and hence has decided to play the series at a neutral venue. During the ICC meeting scheduled on February 1 at Perth, PCB will take the opportunity to ask Cricket Australia to play in England, UAE or Malaysia.

Also during the two-Test series against Sri Lanka next month, PCB will invite ICC officials and members of other cricket boards to show them that there are no security problems.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said they have been looked after very well but they have spent most of the time in the hotel.

Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik admitted that lack of international cricket could be a factor against Sri Lanka.

"Sri Lanka have the advantage as we have not played international cricket for some months, while they have played a lot of cricket in the same period. We will gradually improve and so will our confidence," said Malik.

In their last series in Abu Dhabi three months ago, Pakistan beat the West Indies 3-0.

Rust factor
Jayawardene said they would look to capitalise on every possible weakness of the opposition. "We have been doing well recently and if we find Pakistan rusty, it's fine with us, but if they are not, we will still do our best," said the Lanka skipper.

After the two back-to-back games today and tomorrow, the third and final matches will be played in Lahore on Saturday.

Playing days are here again: Pakistan cricket team during their training session on the eve of the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Karachi. PIC/AFP