Thousands of security personnel were deployed as the team were taken from Lahore airport to a city hotel.

Pakistan has hosted no top-level international cricket since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore in 2009. Six policemen died.

Zimbabwe and Pakistan will play two T20 matches and three one-day internationals starting on Friday.

Pakistan have recalled their former captain, all-rounder Shoaib Malik, and fast bowler Mohammad Sami for the T20 games. There is no place for spin bowler Saeed Ajmal.

The 15-man squad also sees batsman Umar Akmal return after failing to impress in the Cricket World Cup and being left out of the recent tour of Bangladesh.

The International Cricket Council has refused to send any match officials to Pakistan for the series with Zimbabwe because of security concerns.

A driver was killed along with the six policemen who died in the 2009 militant attack. Seven Sri Lankan players were wounded, causing shock around the world.

The first T20, to be played on Friday, is sold out amid a wave of jubilation among cricket fans across Pakistan, reports the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad.

Pakistan Cricket Board officials received the Zimbabwe players at Lahore airport with garlands.

"This is a happy occasion. I am grateful to the Zimbabwean government which made this tour possible," PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told Pakistan TV.

Television channels offered live coverage of the arrival of the Zimbabweans - most playing famous Bollywood songs about the "home coming of the beloved" in the background.

All channels ran footage of fans welcoming the Zimbabwe squad and expressing relief over what they saw as the "improved security situation" in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the local authorities have been rehearsing security and evacuation plans involving both airborne and ground forces in the event of an attack, BBC Urdu reports. The authorities have also ordered the closure of all businesses and eating places around the Qaddafi Stadium area in Lahore for two weeks.

Officials say only spectators with valid tickets will be allowed to approach the stadium.