LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan great Wasim Akram said Friday the International Cricket Council should have sent its match officials for his country's first international series at home in six years. The ICC declined to provide umpires and a match referee for two Twenty20s and three ODIs between Pakistan and Zimbabwe due to security concerns. "ICC should have been more positive and they should have sent their match officials," Wasim told reporters during the second One-Day International at Gaddafi Stadium. "I can imagine that this is the first series and (ICC) was worried about its officials so hopefully when the second team comes (to Pakistan) they will send their match officials too." Pakistan's government has provided thousands of policemen and paramilitaries to guard the visitors since they arrived in this eastern city of Lahore on May 19. It's the first international series in Pakistan since gunmen attacked a Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009. Left-arm fast bowler Wasim, who took 414 Test wickets and 502 wickets in ODI matches, was impressed with the big crowds that turned up to watch Zimbabwe even though the African nation is lowly ranked at No. 12 in ODI rankings. "Unbelievable," Wasim said of the nearly 27,000 spectators at each of the two Twenty20s and the two ODIs. "That's something that brought back the memories of my playing days, great achievement by the PCB. "You can't keep cricket away from Pakistan because of the amount of passion and the amount of talent here. "I must thank the Zimbabwe cricket team that they are here and the passion is great with 40 plus degree heat in the middle of the summer and fans had to battle massive security to create this great atmosphere," said Wasim. "This is the first step and slowly and gradually more teams will come. I hope that perceptions will change and I also hope that the cricketing world will take notice who have been lukewarm in praising this series," said Wasim. Wasim said Pakistan cricket suffered badly in the wake of no international cricket for six years. "When I was young I got motivated by watching Allan Border, Malcolm Marshall, Imran Khan and Javed Miandad on these grounds. I used to take the whole round when they used to practice so you get more motivation when you watch them in front of your own eyes. "That was not available to fans and players so they suffered badly." Wasim hoped India revives cricketing ties with Pakistan. "India versus Pakistan should happen, where ever it happens because the beauty of Indo-Pak cricket is unmatchable. "People are starved of Indo-Pak cricket so they are desperately waiting for that." Pakistan is due to host India in the United Arab Emirates in December this year pending New Delhi's clearance. — Agencies
