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  a chance to show their appreciation. The last major cricket competition Pakistan won was the 1992 World Cup. Officials 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,  beat drums and chanted slogans before realizing the cricketers had departed from another terminal. This is a huge disappointment as fans had not slept for two nights and they had spent their time and money to welcome their heroes. But it was not fruitful. Security measures should be taken but not at the cost of nation’s sentiment. We want to celebrate after 17 long years and was not able to do so. There should be an alternate plan for it. A gathering of Hundreds and thousands of people left gloomy by the incident.

“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.”

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. I want to thank them,” Mr Alam said.