Champions Trophy: Pakistan's cricketers receive heroes' welcome

Crowed in Karachi welcomed players

Pakistan Cricket Team received amazing welcome as they returned home after their champions trophy glory in England.

Fans gather outside Captain Sarfraz's home

Pakistan was the lowest ranked team of the eight that qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy. The team was composed of mostly inexperienced and young players who came through a troubled domestic cricket and had barely played any international match on the home grounds.

Player of the tournament Hassan Ali ripped through English batting lineup

The team suffered thumping from India in the opening group match. Then their every match being a knockout and all odds stacked against them the 'cornered tigers', a term used for the team by former Captain and World Cup winner Imran Khan, begin their comeback by winning against the no. 1 ranked team South Africa. Their spirits were not to be stopped as they reached the final of the tournament, demolishing home favourites England in the semis.

Player of the match Fakhar Zaman celebrates scoring his first century

In the final Pakistan again faced the arch-rivals India and were invited to bat first. Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman who only made his debut in the tournament scored a quick century to put the team in commanding position as they put 338 on the board.

Fakhar Zaman gets a warm welcome his hometown Mardan, Pakistan

After posing a mammoth total pacer Muhammad Amir quickly snatched the wickets of arguably worlds most professional top batting order while the rest of the team was rounded of on just 158 runs.

A fiery opening spell from Muhammad Amir got Pakistan in winning position

"First of all I would like to thank God, I think this is a big victory for the whole Pakistani public," captain Sarfraz told reporters.

"All the boys worked very hard, after losing that first match, the way the boys made the comeback is remarkable," said Sarfraz.