Islamabad, Jan 25 (IANS): Pakistan's national basketball team has returned home after clinching the silver medal in the second South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) Championship in Dhaka.

The players and officials were welcomed warmly by the fans and officials Thursday after they landed at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, reports Xinhua.

Fans pelted flower petals at the players and presented garlands to them.

The hosts finished as the only unbeaten team in the tournament clinching the gold medal with Pakistan winning three of their four matches. Pakistan started their campaign in an impressive fashion defeating Maldives 88-62.

They continued their winning performance as they thrashed Nepal in the second match 78-67.

In the third match, Pakistan out-scored Bangladesh 20-17 and 24-19 in the first and third quarters and were with just two point deficit going into the final round. But the home team's fruitful attacks and solid defence converted their slim lead into a decisive nine-point advantage by the end of the match. Bangladesh won the match 77-68.

Pakistan lost its hopes for the gold as they got defeated at the hands of Bangladesh. But they secured the silver by overpowering Bhutan 79-63 in their fourth and last match.

The championship was played on round robin basis with five South Asian teams participating including hosts Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.