Cricket is a national passion in Pakistan [GALLO/GETTY]

The fans were happy that they were getting the chance to see the Pakistan team up close. The people behind the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium were pleased to see some return on their $100million investment.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) were glad to have Pakistan playing again to prove the team wasn't being isolated. 

Remember, the ICC just recently had withdrawn the country's right to co-host the 2011 World Cup over security fears.

But there is one group who didn't get much of a mention – the fans back home in Pakistan.

Cricket vacuum

While their team was taking on Australia, millions of Pakistanis were at home watching the series on television, asking why the team were not playing in their home country.

With the national team in exile, the domestic season over the only cricket in Pakistan is to be found on the maidans of cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

Here boys still dream of becoming the next Shoaib Akhtar or Younus Khan.

But for now the only way they're going to see those players is on television.

Al Jazeera met up with Ali Shuja, director of the Lahore Cricket Academy. 

Some of his former students include opening batsman Salman Butt and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

His assessment about the current state of the game is not optimistic.

'Bleak'

"The future of youngsters in my country is very bleak, particularly in sports," he told Al Jazeera. 

A Lahore park during England's tour of Pakistan in 2005 [GALLO/GETTY]

"You know, when there's no international cricket being played in the country, there's hardly any domestic cricket...what are they going to do for the other eight months?"

Ali's main concern is that the lack of cricket will force many youngsters away from the game and make them more susceptible to other influences, mainly crime.

It's a fear echoed by one of his students.

"If Pakistan cricket is finished, Pakistan grounds will be finished, Pakistan players will be finished," the boy said.

"There'll be no cricket left. So youngsters instead of playing could fall into criminal behaviour."

Frustration

The overriding feeling among the young players was frustration they couldn't watch their team at home and most of that frustration was directed at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

Many people here feel it hasn't done enough to fight Pakistan's corner at the International Cricket Council.

In recent years the PCB has seemingly been more interested in pursuing high-profile court cases against its own players (hello Shoaib Akhtar) than pushing forward the cause of Pakistan cricket.

The PCB may have a case when it says the ICC were too hasty in removing Pakistan from the list of World Cup hosts. 

But the fact of the matter is after the Lahore attacks, no overseas team wants to go to the country – for now at least.

What the PCB should do is try and see this situation as an opportunity. 

The ex-pat crowds from the subcontinent and southern hemisphere that I witnessed in Dubai produced some of the best atmosphere I've experienced at a cricket match, and that was during a game that was no last-ball thriller.

The team should get used playing regularly in the Emirate (they've played just eight ODIs and two Tests in six months) and, more importantly, start winning. 

A successful side will go some way towards lifting the pall of gloom that has descended on the game in Pakistan.

Apartheid precedent

Finally the PCB should look at the example of South Africa.

It too was banned from international cricket although, it should be pointed out, for very different reasons.

The important thing to note is that the country, deprived of international opposition, focused on the domestic game and particularly youth development.

If Pakistan can do the same, it may unearth some young stars to inspire the future generations playing on the Lahore maidans.