Pakistani fans miss MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli as cricket returns to the country

Pakistan fans are missing the presence of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli as the Independence Cup is set to commence on Tuesday evening. The Indian stalwarts are immensely popular figures across the world and the fans from Pakistan especially admire them both. The first T20I between Pakistan and Faf du Plessis led World XI will be played later today.

No international team has visited the country since the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009. Zimbabwe played a couple of T20 games in Lahore in 2015, albeit without the approval from the ICC. The series was also marred by the blast near the Gaddafi Stadium during the match. Two years down the line, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) looks all set for the historic moment.

Excited fans

The cricket fans of the country especially were deprived of witnessing some quality cricket. They were extremely happy as the World XI side landed in Lahore and thanked them for coming to Pakistan. But some were missing the presence of Indian skipper Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistani cricketer, also expressed his displeasure over the absence of Indian cricketers on social media.

The tickets for all the games are already sold out which shows that Pakistan is a cricket frenzy nation and deserve the game’s return in their country. Meanwhile, Indian fans across the border have wished all the luck to Pakistan cricket for the historic series.

This is how Twitterati expressed their displeasure over MS Dhoni and Kohli’s absence from the World XI series:

@imVkohli.we miss u in lahore virat kohli.y u not comeee?

— Imran rajput (@Imranra31593414) September 11, 2017

#PAKvWXI Virat Kohli & Indians that is our Pakistani Nation who wants Virat Kohli performance at Lahore with spacious heart.This is cricket

— Tahseen Raza???? (@tahseenraza514) September 11, 2017

#PAKvWXI Virat Kohli MS Dhoni our heartiest wish that come here entertain with their bating with legend style in World 11.Politics Profane

— Tahseen Raza???? (@tahseenraza514) September 11, 2017

Definitely if Indian players like kohli and Dhoni visits to play there will be huge impact of returning of cricket in Pakistan ! https://t.co/OQlPI9a7Y6

— Azhar (@Azharazzu25) September 12, 2017

Really pleased that PCB- ICC have joined hands to bring cricket back home to Pak. Would 've been great to see some Indian players too

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 25, 2017

Good to hear cricket is back in #pak
Love from India #PAKvWXI

— Krishna Haranath (@iamharnad) September 11, 2017

#PAKvWXI best of luck pakistan from ur friend India.may god restore cricket there and india pak play a series soon.

— Pankaj stanley (@pankajstanley) September 11, 2017

As an Indian i seldom want Pakistan to win any match but as a cricket lover i always want to see cricket coming back there !! #PAKvWXI

— Ayush? (@ayusingh7) September 11, 2017

In having no Indian represent the WXI, @BCCI is just putting itself to shame as the world tries and hopes for cricket back in Pak. #PAKvWXI

— Kashish Chadha (@crickashish217) September 11, 2017

World XI side will be led by Proteas skipper across all formats, Faf du Plessis and he will be supported by his teammates Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel, David Miller, Imran Tahir. The side is also boosted by Darren Sammy, Grant Elliott, Tamim Iqbal, George Bailey, Paul Collingwood, Samuel Badree among others.