Sri Lankan Cricket players attacked in Pak

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Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Sri Lankan team as they were on their way to Gadaffi stadium in Lahore.

In a shocking turn of events, Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Pakistan when the players were on their way to Gaddafi stadium for the third day's play of the second Test match.

It is confirmed that Chaminda Vaas, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thusara and Tharanga Paranavitana are amongst the players who got injured, while captain Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Muralitharan are said to be safe

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http://www.espnstar.com/cricket/inte...tacked-in-Pak/

This is a terrible event...the news media here are reporting that officials are considering the future of cricket on the whole sub-continent and suggesting that it could be the end of international cricket inside Pakistan for the foreseeable future - perhaps the next decade.

There are serious concerns about the World Cup, and lots more questions are being raised now about the safety of participants in the next Commonwealth Games.

davidp

Yes - its terrible for world cricket. Teams will be in two minds to tour the Asian countries.. what with Sri Lanka in conflict - attacks in Mumbai - and military upsurge in Bangladesh. World cup will certainly move out. Even the cash cow IPL in India this year is likely to get postponed due to the general elections ! Quite a blow for world cricket !

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The driver, Mohammad Khalil, says he was intercepted by a white car as he was about to turn at the roundabout and the gunmen - a dozen, say officials - emerged from behind trees and opened fire in a sophisticated, coordinated attack. Television footage showed several gunmen creeping through trees, crouching to aim their weapons and then running onto the next target.

First, they aimed at the bus tyres; at the sound of the shooting, the Sri Lankan players and staff hit the floor of the bus to escape the sniper fire. Khalil followed his instinct and jammed hard on the accelerator. "When the firing started one of the players shouted 'go, go' and somehow I kept my cool, ducked and sped the bus towards the stadium."

The momentum probably saved those on board, because though the bus was hit by 25 bullets, it avoided the heavier ammunition - a rocket, which landed on the road, and several grenades, which failed to explode.

Mahela Jayawaredene said later: "We owe the team bus driver our lives for his remarkable bravery in the face of direct gunfire. Had he not had the courage and presence of mind to get the bus moving after the initial attack then we'd have been a far easier target for the terrorists."

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http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/pakv...ry/393260.html

It would certainly have been a disaster if any of the cricketer would have got killed. Thank God !

Wow. If the driver got shot or dropped to the floor as well they would have been sitting ducks. No one probably would have made it out alive.

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Wow. If the driver got shot or dropped to the floor as well they would have been sitting ducks. No one probably would have made it out alive.

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- Yes they are lucky to get from there alive. This is the first time that terrorists have attacked a major sporting event/sportspersons(after Munich). Hope it does not beome a norm. Sports does not need this for sure !