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Nation revels in India's historic win
"The whole nation is proud of you," President A P J Abdul Kalam told the Indian cricket team on Friday as the nation erupted into joy.
"The whole nation is proud of you," President A P J Abdul Kalam told the Indian cricket team on Friday as the nation erupted into joy on its historic Test series win over arch-rivals Pakistan.
"My hearty congratulations to all of you on this historic and fantastic win that you have registered in the just-concluded cricket series in Pakistan", he said in a message to Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and his boys who made history by winning the three-match Test series in Pakistan.
"This has been made possible by admirable team effort", Kalam said adding the "whole nation is proud of you."
Kalam's message summed up the mood in the country that went into celebratory mood as soon as India clinched the third Test in Rawalpindi for their first-ever series win on Pakistan soil. Cricket fans were seen bursting crackers in several parts of the country and distributed sweets to cherish the special moment.
Congratulatory messages poured in from every corner of the country with cricket administrators, former players and common men all chosing the occassion to wish the team for the historic win.
Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said the one-day and the Test series a lot of "expectations and goodwill" and ended with a happy note.
"This is a dream come true for the Indian players and the people of the country," he said in a message to the Indian team.
In Kolkata, the hometown of Sourav Ganguly, fans and cricket lovers come onto the streets as soon as last the Pakistani batsman Danish Kaneria was dismissed. The fans waved the tri-colour and congratulated each other.
In the capital, man of the series Virender Sehwag's home at Najafgarh was thronged by neighbours who congratulated the cricketer's family members.
Former Test cricketers hailed the win in Pakistan as the "greatest ever" and said it would prove a motivating factor for the future series abroad.
"For India to win a Test series in Pakistan is itself a fantastic performance. But to win the one-day series and then the Test series is simply breathtaking," former captain Polly Umrigar said in Mumbai.
Chandu Borde said "the boys have fulfilled their potential. It is a tremendous achievement as we have won the one-day series as well as the Test series for the first time ever in Pakistan".
Sandeep Patil said "Hats off to Sourav and his boys for a moral boosting series win. From now on the team can only look orward to more success in the future".
Sports Minister Vikram Verma and Lok Sabha Speaker Murli Manohar Joshi and a host of leaders joined the chorus in congratulating the team.
"The Indian team has not only won the Test series, but also the hearts of people of Pakistan," Joshi said in an obvious reference to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's advice to the team before it left for Pakistan last month.
"The series will definitely help in building in people to people contact between India and Pakistan," he said.
