GUANGZHOU, Nov 19 Pakistan's women team created history here on Friday by winning the inaugural cricket event of the Asian Games, bringing the first gold medal for the country in the present Asiad.

Pakistan crushed Bangladesh by 10 wickets after putting their rivals into bat. Bangladesh were dismissed for a paltry 92, a score which never tested the Pakistan batting.

Sana Mir, the Pakistan captain, dedicated the gold medal to women, flood survivors and terror-hit people back home.

Pakistan's opening pair of Nida Rashid and Javeria Wadood raced to the target in 15.4 overs.

Nida, 23, gave an all-round performance, scoring a scintillating 51 off 43 balls and grabbing four wickets for 16 runs with her spin.

Bangladesh kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Only two players - Rumana Ahmed (16) and Salma Khatun (24) - entered double figures.

Sana Mir grabbed two wickets while Masooma Junaid and Sana Gulzar finished their four-over spells with one wicket each.

“People talk negatively about Pakistan, but there is nothing like that. Instead a lot of good things are happening there,” said the skipper.

Asked how she felt after winning the gold medal, she said “We have had great women leaders like Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto.”

“We have been practising against our under-19 and under-25 men's cricket teams at home and that training helped us a lot,” said an elated Sana.

“There are always good and bad individuals everywhere. If someone is involved in match-fixing, this is his individual act and has nothing to do with the team. The game is clean,” she said in response to a question over the controversy faced by Pakistan men's cricket team.

Nida, who is pursuing her Masters degree in sports, told Dawn “I have been following cricket since childhood. It's always been my passion and my perseverance helped me reach the podium.”

“It was a team effort and at last we have won a gold medal for Pakistan,” she said.

Pakistan had last won a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2002 through boxer Mehrullah.

The country's Olympic chief, Syed Arif Hasan, and deputy chef de mission announced an award of 500 dollars for every member of the cricket team.

The team will leave for Karachi on Saturday.