Cricket - Pakistan warm hearts, India and Australia shine at home

FILE PHOTO: Britain Cricket - Pakistan v India - 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final - The Oval - June 18, 2017 Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed and team mates celebrate winning the ICC Champions Trophy Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Steve Smith helmed Australia's successful Ashes mission and India proved impregnable at home but it was cricket exiles Pakistan who had the most memorable year in 2017.

Top teams have shunned the South Asian country since gunmen in Lahore attacked a bus carrying the visiting Sri Lankan side in 2009, killing eight locals and wounding six players and a British coach.