Pakistan have had their security tightened up for their stay at the World Twenty20 tournament in England, where they are hopeful of hosting Test matches from next summer.
A two-match series against Australia has been mooted in 2010 following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in March, which has dissuaded international teams from travelling to play Pakistan in their own country.
There were already stark reservations about playing international cricket in Pakistan with last year's Champions Trophy cancelled and subsequently shifted to South Africa 12 months later.
"We are used to these kind of conditions because whenever we play we have a lot of security," said their captain, Younis Khan. "This time it is a very high level and we are happy."
Talks with the relevant boards have taken place for Pakistan, who have a large following in Britain, to use England as their base against the Australians. Younis added: "Playing in England is everybody's dream. When I played my first Test match here at Lord's it was a fantastic feeling. This is the home of cricket. It is an achievement to play here and youngsters should be looking to do that.
"If you play at home all the time it is not good for youngsters in learning to adapt. International cricketers have to play in all conditions."
As things stand, Pakistan's top players are restricted in participating in any kind of conditions. "The reason we are suffering is that we are not playing regularly and nobody is coming to Pakistan. If we do well in this Twenty20 tournament everyone will be watching us and we will be on the way in our mission to be playing again.
"Back home every single person watches Twenty20, we were second in the last tournament and if we play well here it will be good for Pakistan cricket. Our nation is depressed these days and cricket can cheer them up. This is something for them."
Their fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was ruled out of the event after being diagnosed with genital warts, but Misbah-ul-Haq and Salman Butt have recovered from injury niggles and are expected to play a full part in Pakistan's warm-up matches this week.
