Pakistan cricketers return home

The Pakistan cricket team who won the World Twenty20 in the UK have returned home amid tight security, disappointing fans waiting to welcome them.

Hundreds of fans greeted the captain, Younis Khan, who arrived in Karachi, separately from the rest of the team,

But the remaining members of the team arrived in Lahore and were driven away in a bus before waiting fans had had a chance to show their appreciation.

The last major cricket competition Pakistan won was the 1992 World Cup.

Police official Umar Virk told Aaj Television: "We changed the plan due to security reasons and drove players and team officials in a bus to the National Cricket Academy."

'Unfortunate'

Fans who had gathered at the Lahore airport early on Tuesday beat drums and chanted slogans before realising the cricketers had departed from another terminal.

"Our hearts are broken as we could not greet our heroes," Danish Shams, a fan, said.

"We came here only to have a glimpse of them, but now the police officials are saying that they [players] have already left in a bus."

"I don't think we can give a better gift than this to the whole nation"

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said it was "unfortunate" that the waiting fans could not greet the cricketers.

"People have not slept for the last two days, but unfortunately such things do happen and I want to thank them," Mr Alam said.

"We should win more laurels for the country and I don't think we can give a better gift than this to the whole nation."

Many Pakistanis see the win as a boost for the country at a time when the army is locked in combat with the Taliban after a wave of suicide and other attacks.

Foreign teams have refused to play in Pakistan because of security concerns.