Pakistani women cricketers, for the first time ever, received love, fame, warm welcomes and cash prizes when they returned to their hometowns after winning the gold medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Pakistani society, mostly consist of conservative and religious mind people, never considered ladies' participation in sports acceptable and appropriate. Most people believe that their religion and social customs do not allow women to perform openly before common people without any veil (Hijab).

Pakistani women cricket team had been in the field since 1997 but the team players were never appreciated, encouraged and considered suitable for the social norms. But this is the first time in the history of Pakistan as a country that women players were warmly welcomed.

One week has been passed since Nov. 20 the women cricketers returned from China, but people's respect for them and parties in their honor are not going to be over yet. On Nov. 20 and 21, people watched a rare act in Pakistan from men side when dozens of men fans showered rose petals on women cricketers, greeting them with slogans of "Pakistan Zindabad" (long live Pakistan) and dancing on their arrival in Pakistan.

The players, attired in the traditional green uniform, landed in the southern city Karachi as hundreds of people, including their families and friends, were waiting to welcome them.

Sana Mir, team captain, was astonished by the inspiring welcome and appreciation given by the people.

"We were very happy at winning but we didn't think about such a huge welcome and appreciation, happy tears came in my eyes on arrival, really it was big change in our social attitude," Mir told Xinhua from her hometown Lahore.

The gold won by the Pakistani women's team after beating Bangladesh in the final was the first for the country in Asiad since boxer Mehrullah Lassi's achievement in Busan, South Korea, in 2002.

"Actually people were not welcoming the women but the happiness they brought from China hidden in gold medal, as you know the whole society wants some relief from tension waves of terrorism," Rafi Shehzad, a citizen in Islamabad, told Xinhua.

Pakistani team, in the absence of its archrival Indian squad, won all the four matches that it played in the event against China, Thailand, Japan and then Bangladesh in the final.

Before becoming the Asian champion the only major achievement in team's credits was qualifying for the International Cricket Council(ICC) World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) record shows that how much pathetic performance of the team had been as the team could won only 15 matches and lost 60 out of total 75 one-day international matches it played during last 13 years.

Mansoor Rana, coach of the team, was happy that the girls had gained the international exposure by playing in ICC events and against top oppositions in the last two years and finally it had helped them winning the Asian Games.

"The girls just need more exposure and matches and in the next five years they will be among the top three or five top teams in the world," said Rana.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani facilitated the team and its management over the historical victory on the debut of the game in Asiad. Zardari, chief pattern of the PCB, also honored the team players and officials inviting them in president house and awarding half a million rupees (about US$5,900) to each of them.

The Pakistani contingent of 235 players and officials had ended their campaign in the Asian Games grabbing eight medals including three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2010)