NEW DELHI, April 16: India hailed its cricket team's historic maiden Test series victory in Pakistan on Friday as one of the finest moments in the country's cricketing history.

Delirious fans shouted slogans praising the players and burst crackers in celebrations across the country as soon as the team clinched the deciding third Test in Rawalpindi by an innings and 131 runs with over a day to spare. The Indian cricket board congratulated the players and quickly announced a victory bonus of Rs5 million.

"The entire country joins me in congratulating you and all members of the team for scripting history," board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said in a message to Saurav Ganguly. Indian President Abdul Kalam led the nation in hailing skipper Ganguly and his team.

"My hearty congratulations to all of you on this historic and fantastic win that you have registered...," Kalam said in a message relayed to Ganguly. "The whole nation is proud of you ... this has been made possible by admirable team effort," Kalam said.

India's Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani appeared happy beyond words. "This is a dream come true for the Indian players and the people of the country," Advani said. Ex-Test player Navjot Sidhu said the Rawalpindi win was comparable to India's finest moment, the 1983 World Cup victory.

Delighted chief selector Syed Kirmani described the victory as "absolutely historic" and declared: "We have literally brown-washed Pakistan." Former Test cricketers such as Sandeep Patil, Polly Umrigar and Chandu Borde sounded euphoric.

"For India to win a Test series in Pakistan is itself a fantastic performance. But to win the ODI and then the Test series is simply breathtaking," said former skipper Umrigar. -Agencies