Although incessant rains had paralysed City life, it was not enough to dampen the spirits of the hockey fans who jam-packed all available space inside the airport hours before the plane was due to arrive to welcome their heroes home.

[Captain] Atif conceded all the credit to the members of the team. He spoke highly of the co-operation and high spirits of the “gallant boys”. Atif said that he was confident of beating India and went [about] the job in a business-like manner. He added that the boys put a lot of punch into their efforts and finally won most convincingly.

The members of the team reached Hotel Metropole at 11p.m. for a night’s rest which will be followed by a very heavy programme spread over two days.

At 10-30 this morning, the members of the team will call on the Acting President of Pakistan, Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, at the President’s House. At 12-30 p.m. they will attend a lunch arranged in their honour by the Karachi Port Trust at Beach Luxury Hotel. At 4-30 p.m. they are scheduled to leave their hotel in a motorcade that will pass through the important roads and markets of the city and will terminate at Clifton where the KMC has arranged a civic reception for them at the Aquarium Hall.—Sports correspondent