Pak team returns to warm welcome

Karachi/Lahore, Apr 1 (PTI) Notwithstanding the loss in the high-voltage World Cup semifinal encounter with India, the Pakistan cricket team today received a rousing welcome on its return home even as the country's media heaped praise on its remarkable performance despite "facing much hardship in recent times". Skipper Shahid Afridi and his men, who were not among the favourites at the start of the Cup but managed to reach the semifinals, were cheered when they arrived in Karachi with die-hard fans greeting them at the airport. After being mobbed at the Karachi airport, Afridi was accompanied by legions of fans to his home, some 10 kilometres from the terminal. Afridi, who had inspired his men still recovering from the spot-fixing scandal in London last summer, was critical of Interior Minister Rehman Malik on his remarks warning them against match-fixing on the eve of the Mohali encounter. "I think the statement made by (Interior Minister) Rehman Malik, I don't think the timing was right. He telephoned me three or four times and he tried to explain things but I could not understand what he was saying as I was busy with my work.I think he made a mistake and I hope such mistakes aren't made by anyone in future," Afridi said...............



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