Hasina garlanded the cricketers, saying: 'The whole nation is proud of you. You are our golden boys.'

A 'grand reception' would be given to them after the end of the mourning month of August, which marks the killing of the country's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members, The Daily Star said Sunday. Hasina is the daughter of Mujibur Rahman.

Stand-in Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan thanked the prime minister and presented a cricket bat signed by the team as well as the winning trophy.

'Just carry on the hard work with integrity. The government and the people will be with you,' United News of Bangladesh news agency quoted her as saying.

On the same day Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarker declared Tk50,000 ($700 approximately) reward for each player at a reception party accorded to them.