Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley on Friday said that it was “such a historic day” for Pakistan, as the country hosts the T20 World Champions after 24 years of the gap with hopes for inspiring a new generation of cricketers.

Pakistan are batting against Australia on Friday (today) in the first test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. The Australian players have expressed their delight in coming here and extended their support for the revival of international cricket.

“We’ve been looking forward to it [this historic day] and I could not be more thrilled to be here in Pakistan. The welcome that we’ve received has been just really overwhelming and the excitement among our playing group has just been palpable,” he said in a joint press conference at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday ahead of the first test between Pakistan and Australia for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.

He was accompanied by Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Faisal Hasnain, International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice, and Australia Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg, according to a handout.

The Cricket Australia chief executive further thanked the PCB and the ACA, saying that it’s been a “wonderful team effort”.

While the four senior cricket administrators shared their views on the significance of the series and reflected on the work done in the background to make the series happen between the two sides, they also paid tributes to legendary Australia wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh, who passed this morning at the age of 74.

“Today, this is an exciting moment for Pakistan cricket,” PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain said. He was of the view that the presence of cricket administrators here demonstrated their commitment to the tour.

“There are many people on both sides who have worked tirelessly over many months to make this tour a reality. This tour sends out a strong and a positive message to the entire world,” he said, “I am confident that when the Australian team returns home, they will take fond memories with them and will all become ambassadors of Pakistan.”

Hasnain thanked Cricket Australia for the tour, adding that the visit was about mutual respect and admiration. It’s about all sides working together as a team, towards a common objective and demonstrating to the world that the international cricketing community remains firm in its unity, he added.

“Whatever the result on the field, whatever the outcome, the ultimate winner will be this glorious game of cricket,” the PCB CEO said.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice was of the view that a “strong Pakistan” was “very important” for international cricket. “I know this series is an important one for the PCB and cricket fans in Pakistan. I think over the last five years, this Australian side will be the sixth Test-playing nation to visit Pakistan during that period. It’s a significant moment for both sides.”

Moreover, ACA Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said that players were “unbelievably excited” to be in Pakistan and thanked the PCB, the government and, particularly, the people of Pakistan for the warm welcome they’ve received.

“A lot of players were very anxious about this tour some months ago, but that anxiety has turned to real excitement and that’s a really positive sign for global cricket. It’s really positive sign that the Australian cricket team are here, and we understand our contribution and our responsibility to the global game, which is why this tour is so significantly important,” he said.

He further spoke about the difficulties for people in Pakistan in form of closed roads in view of the security situation. “We want to say thank you and we appreciate that effort to allow us to be secure and to get to the ground and to get to training and all those sorts of things,” Greenberg said.