The Pakistani cricket team, which lost to arch-rivals India in the 2011 World Cup semifinal, was accorded a heroes' welcome by its fans on its return home early Friday.

Afridi was greeted at the airport by a large number of fans who chanted "Boom Boom Afridi we love you" and "Pakistan team has done us proud", and waved the Pakistani flag, Dawn reported.

The team, which left Mumbai late Thursday, arrived in Karachi in the early hours of Friday via Dubai.