Hosting Pakistan 'home' matches a success.

I think that the first Test between Pakistan and Australia showed the ECB's decision to host the former's 'home' matches in England to be a success.

The crowds for the first Test at Lord's were certainly decent. It will be interesting to see the numbers who turn up to watch them at Headingley, as there is a really strong Asian community up there, so I'm looking forward to seeing a bigger turnout.
England was not the only option for them. They can also play Tests in Abu Dhabi, or in Dubai, but there are doubts as to whether they would get the same sort of crowds as they are getting here.
I think that it was a good opportunity for the ECB, especially with Australia as the opposition, so I think everybody has won out of this series. There is certainly a few quid to be made out of it, which won't do any harm. They saw the opportunity to experiment, and it has worked.
It's just a shame that supporters in Pakistan are not going to be able to see any international cricket in their own country for the foreseeable future.
However the series with Australia ends, England have to be careful not to underestimate Pakistan when their turn to play them comes around at Trent Bridge at the end of the month.
They are certainly a side capable of bowling you out. The young lad Mohammad Aamer seems like a decent seamer, and of course Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul are fine bowlers on their day too.
So they've got a seam attack that can hurt you. They have the ability to surprise you if you don't perform with discipline.
Whether they can maintain that over a long period of time is going to be the big question though.
They are all keen to come up and play one-day cricket, but can they now transfer that into the Test match arena? I have serious doubts about that, but they can certainly trip you up on the odd occasion.
It's important for England to guard against that, but ultimately I expect them to win the series comfortably.