INTERNATIONAL: The Australian Cricket Team, which has arrived in Pakistan for its first tour in 24 years, will be given Head-of-State security, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced on Tuesday (March 01).

The visitors are scheduled to play three test matches, three one-day internationals, and a one-off Twenty20 during their six-week tour.

Pakistan has been shunned by international cricket teams since a fatal terrorist attack on a visiting Sri Lanka team's bus in 2009.

 “Excellent arrangements by the Pakistan Cricket Board, Pakistan Armed Forces, Pakistan police, Pakistan Civil Administration, and Islamabad Administration also. And we are giving you Head of State Security, which we give security to Head of the States.”

 “There are some people, especially the Indians, which (sic) are not happy with the happiness of the Pakistani people who are cricket lovers. And they did the same during the New Zealand tour. But this time they have failed. And you will see how all Pakistani nation will welcome the Australian.”

Although over the last six years, Pakistan has hosted Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, and South Africa, Australia will be the first high-profile team that will be playing a full-fledged bilateral series in the cricket-crazy country.

Australia last toured to Pakistan in 1998 when it won the test series 1-0 while also winning all the matches in the limited-overs series.

^{PHOTO: VARIOUS OF PAKISTAN’S INTERIOR MINISTER INSPECTING CRICKET GROUND WHERE FIRST TEST WILL BE PLAYED/ VARIOUS OF AUSTRALIAN AND PAKISTAN TEAMS AT NET PRACTICE/ MINISTER COMMENTS}