DUBAI Security-hit Pakistan finds shelter in the United Arab Emirates as they host Australia in the first one-day international here on Wednesday, with a hope that the desert venues continue to be their new home of cricket.
Pakistan was forced to play their three-match home series against the West Indies at Abu Dhabi in November last year and had to relocate the current series to Dubai and Abu Dhabi after Australia refused to tour them, weeks after the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team was ambushed by terrorists in Lahore.
Given the uncertainty over the future of cricket in Pakistan, especially after the ICC decided that no matches would be played there during the 2011 World Cup, many believe that cricket in the Gulf may turn into a regular feature.
After the second match in Dubai on Friday, the remaining three matches will be played at Abu Dhabi on April 27, May one and 3.
The only Twenty20 match will be played in Dubai on May 7.
Remaining upbeat Pakistan captain Younis Khan said conditions in Emirates are like back home.
'There is no alternative to playing at home but unfortunately we have to play in Emirates but the conditions here are similar to Pakistan and we feel it is like home away from home,' said Younis.
Younis hoped Pakistani expatriates come to watch the games.
'I hope Pakistani people who live here will come to encourage us, especially on Fridays,' said Younis.
Cricket or hosting Pakistan is not a new phenomenon in the United Arab Emirates.
Sharjah cricket stadium hosted a world record of 198 one-day matches — mostly involving Pakistan and India — between 1984-2003.
Pakistan was also forced to play their two home series — against the West Indies and Australia — in Sharjah and Sri Lanka in 2002 after both teams refused to play in Pakistan due to security fears in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the United States and ensuing war in Afghanistan.
Emirates Cricket Board senior administrator Mazhar Khan said Emirates have two world class grounds to host Pakistan's matches.
'It is a great honour to become home for Pakistan cricket. We look forward to hosting them, the Dubai Sports City stadium is a world class facility and can also host international cricket,' Khan told AFP.
On Wednesday, the Dubai stadium will become the world's 172nd venue to host a one-day international.
Australia's stand-in captain Michael Clarke praised the state-of-the-art facilities at the stadium.
'This will be the first time we will be playing in Dubai and I think the facilities are fantastic, we look forward to playing more and more cricket at the stadium,' said Clarke of the multi-million dollars, 25,000-seater stadium.
'Pakistan will feel more like at home than us, because of the heat and the local crowd, but we take this as a wonderful opportunity to play in Dubai and then in Abu Dhabi,' said Clarke.
Veteran scorer Mohammad Ali Jaffri said Pakistan should look at UAE for their cricket matches.
'The venue in Emirates gives Pakistan a chance to give their cricket starved players some activity and the grounds are the best in the world,' said Jaffri, who will complete 200 matches as scorer on Friday.
