'A Special Moment'

Calling it a "great feeling" on beating Pakistan in a Test series on their soil, captainSaurav Ganguly said his side's triumph was the result of "team work" and thatthe players' hard work was beginning to bear fruit.

The team had come close to winning overseas a few times in the last few years but the remarkable victory againstPakistan was possible because the players had learnt from the past mistakes, a visibly happy Ganguly said at a post-matchPress conference.

"The victory against Pakistan in Pakistan will always be special. It's a great feeling, there's always a differentcharm when you beat Pakistan. There is great rivalry between the two teams and we really fight hard," he said.

"In the past two years, we have come close to winning an overseas series but could not pull it through. We learnt fromthe mistakes. I think our bowlers did a great job on the first day. In the past we could not manage to get such astart, and everybody contributed for this victory," Ganguly said.

"Cricket is a team game, and no individual can win you the game. Somebody or the other has always come good. Sehwag,Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Yuvraj all had some big scores in the one-dayers and the Tests.

"Pathan, Balaji and Kumble bowled very well. Both the batsmen and the bowlers performed which made the victorypossible," he said.

On what was his feeling as the historic victory has made him the most successful Indian captain now, Ganguly said,"It's a great win for the team. When I became the captain, there were many guys who were starting their careers and werevery young. They have now matured and have started to perform. It's a good journey for John (Wright) and myself and I hope wecan improve."

Ganguly recorded his 15th win as captain eclipsing Mohammad Azharuddin's record of 14 Test wins.

Asked whether the team could have won the series 3-0 had they not decided to bat first in the second Test in Lahore,Ganguly said, "Rahul had taken the right decision. We had batted first on green tops earlier. It's just that we did notbat well in the morning session on the opening day.

"It's not easy to win 3-0 when you are playing away from home. Pakistan played well to win the Lahore Test. Theywere playing at home and were bound to fight back. It was a question of playing well in the last match," Ganguly said.

On what was the main difference between the two teams, he said it would be unfair to pull down the Pakistani team justbecause they lost the series.

"It takes some time to build up a good team. There are a lot of young and talented players in the Pakistan team. It isa transition period because many of the experienced players have left the scene. So we have to give them some time togrow. It is not proper to pull them down because they lost the series," he said.

Asked whether he would recommend Pakistan as a safe venue after the series passed off smoothly, he said, "Definitely.There have been no problems and the tour went off very well. We have enjoyed our stay in Pakistan. It's been more enjoyablebecause we have won the series."

Man-of-the-series Virender Sehwag said the tour of Australia had given the team alot of confidence and self-belief that they could play well anywhere.

"The Australian series gave us a lot of confidence. It made us feel that if wecould do it against the best team in the world, we could do it against anybody," he said.

"We had come to this series fully prepared, both mentally andphysically. We just kept our focus on the game," he said.

Asked about any regrets, after he was dismissed for a duck here, Sehwag said, "I have no regrets, the team has wonand that's the most important thing. Individual records don't matter."

Leg spinner Anil Kumble, who made a brilliant comeback from injury to set upIndia's win in the first Test in Multan, said the Indians had "learnt towin now".

"Lot of things will improve. We have learnt to win now and the serieswin will give us a lot of confidence.

"It's a great feeling. I have been part of the team for the last 15years and the only win was in Lanka (in 1993-94).

"So it feels fantastic to win the Test and one-day series inPakistan."

Kumble said the team did not have enough time to celebrate their goodperformance in the Test series Down Under early this season due to the crampedschedule.

"This win is something really special," he said.

"Everybody has put his hands up. It was a great team effort.

"Rahul (Dravid) played a fantastic knock. Balaji, Pathan, Nehra andPathiv, all did their bit."

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq blamed injuries to players as one of the mainreasons for his side's loss.

"We could have played better in this Test match. The one-dayers werekeenly contested but in the Test series we were affected by injuries," hesaid.

"The wickets were also a bit difficult early on but the Indians playedwell in all the departments."

The skipper said he was impressed with the performance of a few youngstersduring the series.

"Umar Gul and Asim Kamal showed they have fighting qualities. They cameup with some improved performances. But our top-order did not play withresponsibility."

PTI