Gunmen open fire on Sri Lankan cricket team
Chaminda Vaas one of seven Sri Lankan cricketers injured after gunmen attack in Lahore
Also In The News
|
England captain Andrew Strauss admitted there was nothing more his bowlers could do in the drawn fourth Test against the West Indies. |  |
Tuesday, 03, Mar 2009 06:15
At least seven Sri Lankan cricketers have been injured after gunmen attacked a bus carrying the team on its way to play Pakistan in Lahore.
Thilan Samaraweera, Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Suranka Lakmal, Chaminda Vaas and Thilan Thushara were hurt after around a dozen gunmen opened fire on the team bus as it neared the Gaddafi Stadium.
"We were told that there was a shooting incident while the team was on its way to the stadium. The players have returned to the hotel," Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge told Indian news channel CNN-INB.
He added two players were still receiving treatment in hospital, including Samaraweera, who was hit in the thigh, with a further five and assistant coach Paul Farbrace receiving minor wounds.
The Test and the remainder of the Sri Lankan tour has been cancelled, a huge blow to Pakistan after the Indian team pulled out of a tour following the Mumbai terror attacks in November.
Five Pakistani policemen were killed in the attacks and grenades and rocket launchers recovered in what Punjab governor Salmaan Tahseer called "an organised attack".
Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya told CNN-IBN he had spoken to Sangakkara and "everybody is safe and okay at the moment".
"Mahela Jayawardene was also injured, but they are all safe at the moment," he added.
"When we played three one-day games there we had no problems. That is why the team went back to Pakistan again for the Test series.
"We had a good game in Karachi and then they went to Lahore where this unfortunate incident has happened.
"These are things you cannot control and the players are shocked at the moment. This is obviously something they haven't gone through before as a cricket team. I feel for them."
Jayasuriya continued: "I can't say at the moment what impact this would have on Pakistan cricket, but the priority at the moment is to see that the Sri Lankan players are safe."
Haroon Lorgat, chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) said the governing body noted "with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation".
"It is a source of great sadness that there have been a number of fatalities in this attack and it is also very upsetting for the wider cricket family that some of the Sri Lanka players and one match official have been injured in this attack," he added.
"At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the injured people and also the families of those who have died."
He confirmed that the remainder of the tour had been cancelled and match officials would be flown out of the areas as quickly as possible.
"I know, also, that the Pakistan Cricket Board is working with Sri Lanka Cricket to make sure the players are flown home at the earliest opportunity."
He added the ICC would make no further comment until the full facts of the incident are established and the players and match officials had returned home safely.