Broad reveals "anger" at Pakistan security
Lahore Test match referee Chris Broad "extremely angry" with failure of Pakistani security forces
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Wednesday, 04, Mar 2009 11:02
Chris Broad, the English match referee for the ill-fated Sri Lanka v Pakistan Test that was abandoned yesterday, has hit out at the security surrounding the match.
The 51-year-old was in one of the vehicles that came under attack from armed gunmen outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, when six policemen were killed.
Mohammad Zafar, the driver of the umpires' car in which Broad was travelling, was also killed after being shot in the stomach.
And Broad believes "questions need to be asked" of the role of the Pakistan Cricket Board and their security advisors for allowing the incident to occur.
"I am angry at Pakistani security forces, the Pakistan Cricket Board security services and their liason," he said.
"We were promised Presidential-style security, and that didn't happen.
"I am extremely angry that we were promised a high level of security, and in our hour of need that security vanished."
Broad said he counted himself "extremely fortunate" to have survived the attack, which also injured seven of the Sri Lankan cricket team, and he said he was "in shock" at the event.
"I, like many people, naively thought there was no way terrorists would attack cricket," he continued.
"I feel sadness for those that were injured and those who were killed in this incident - particularly my driver.
"He was just doing his job - driving us to the cricket ground. He was murdered by people he didn't know. I hope his family can get over this."
When asked if he thought Pakistan could stage international cricket anytime soon, he categorically ruled out any tours for the foreseeable future.