For a kid, it is nothing less than extraordinary to be seeing his heroes in action, right in front of his eyes. He mimics them; he does whatever it takes to be like them.

Pakistan’s star all-rounder Abdur Razzaq once turned up to bat with a cap on backwards, and a helmet on top. I was in boarding school at that time, I remember the following day, every other kid in my school was imitating him. Such is the power of heroes.

Similarly, all-rounder, Imran Khan found himself pulled towards the game after watching his cousin, Majid Khan play. Who would have known then, that this young teenager, infected with his cousin's passion, would go on to win the most prestigious trophy for his homeland?

For any sport to flourish in a country, its team needs to register more and more wins in that sport. Undoubtedly, victories draw more people towards the game. My elder cousins often recount tales of the 1992 World Cup, and how they and their friends bought cricket equipment and joined the nets the very next day after Pakistan became world champions.

The 2009 World T20 triumph was no different. Soon after the win, I saw a good influx of young enthusiasts in the club where I used to go for nets.

Coming to the present, a dark and prolonged era of agony seems to be somewhat coming to a close with Zimbabwe's visit to Pakistan.

With this hotly-anticipated tour, international cricket has finally returned to Pakistan.