Zardari, Gilani hail Pak’s historic cricket gold at Asian Games

LAHORE - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani have congratulated the national women’s cricket team for making history by beating Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the finals to clinch the first Asian Games women’s cricket gold.

Zardari described the women’s gold medal “as a gift to the nation riding on a series of crises,” the Daily Times quoted spokesman Farhatullah Babar, as saying.

“The President has felicitated the team’s players, management and coaches,” Babar added.

Gilani also congratulated the women’s cricket team for winning their first-ever gold medal.

In his message, the Prime Minister said that he was pleased by the performance of the team, and hoped that they would continue to bring more laurels to the country.

Earlier on Friday, after winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Sana Mir had invited Bangladesh to bat first, and her players dismissed them for 92 runs in the allotted 20 overs. Crushing them by ten wickets, Pakistan bagged their first gold in Guangzhou. (ANI)