U-19 team arrive to heroes welcome in Bangalore

BANGALORE: The triumphant India Under-19 cricket team, which won the world cup at Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday received a heroes' welcome on arrival here by a chartered flight this evening.
   
BCCI president Sharad Pawar, UB Chairman Vijay Mallya former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Karnataka Cricket Association Secretary Brijesh Patel received the team on arrival.
   
The Indian colts were accorded a rousing welcome by the various BCCI dignitaries and cricket fans who waited to have a glimpse of the victorious team that won the world cup after eight years, defeating South Africa by 12 runs in the final on March 2.
   
The young Indian champions waved to cricket fans who thronged the airport.
    
The young Indian champions waved their hands acknowledging the greetings of the cricket fans who were lined up along the route holding placards and cheering the players.
    
Banners, welcoming the Indian colts, were put up across the route.
    
An open bus, decorated with balloons, was kept ready to carry the cricketers through the streets of Bangalore as part of the victory parade, akin to the one accorded to the Twenty20 team in Mumbai after their victory.
    
Later, hundreds of fans waving the tricolour cheered the team as they boarded the decorated bus en route to the Chinnaswamy stadium.
    
A dancing troupe preceding the bus was an added attraction for the fans.
    
On Sunday, India defeated South Africa by 12 runs on Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-reduced final to win the trophy.
    
The victory was India's second triumph in thetournament's history after they captured the crown in 2000 in Sri Lanka.