Oh! What a shocking day it has been!
It was late night here in Canada, but a bright morning in Lahore, Pakistan. As usual, I had my dinner and was eagerly waiting to see SL knock down Pakistan wickets after a splendid batting performance that amassed a total of 606 in the previous two days. Third day’s play was due to commence and I was tuning to several channels on the net, to catch a glimpse of the action. But, somehow none of them were working for me, and I decided to follow the match on Cricinfo. Instead of what I anticipated, what I was destined to read on Cricinfo was a headline that said: ” Sri Lankan cricketers injured in terror attack.” I was shocked. Even though, SL as a nation has experienced terror for the past three decades, no one in their wildest dream would have ever imagined that cricket, a sport loved by both friends and foes in South Asia would be its next target. But, sadly, it happened on this day March 03, 2009 in front of the Liberty Market and just a few steps away from the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, and also totally shattered the popularly held conception that cricket was immune from terrorism.
The team was traveling, from the tour hotel to the stadium, when armed masked gunmen opened fire on the team bus. Five Sri Lankan players and Assistant Coach, Paul Farbrace have escaped with somewhat minor but substantial injuries. Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were the ones most seriously injured; Samaraweera received shrapnel in the leg and Paranavitana in the chest. Ajantha Mendis received shrapnel in the neck and scalp. It was a great relief that no one had life threatening wounds.
The tour has been immediately called off and the team will return to SL on the earliest flight. Pakistan has been plagued with security problems for sometime now, with the Champions Trophy taken off and several other tours canceled, the most recent by India. Despite all such concerns, Sri Lanka Cricket was willing to send the team there, in solidarity with Pakistan. Given such a context, numerous questions would be asked of Pakistan’s security arrangements and Sri Lankan authorities’ agreements with them. But, none can match the shock, that, in a moment, our team could have been finished forever, if not for the brave Pakistani driver (Khalil) who drove them towards the stadium in spite of the heavy gun fire.
It was a very very dark day for cricket in general and unfortunately it will be remembered in the years to come, not for the right reason but for the wrong one. Let us hope that the SL players would have the courage and mental strength to overcome this moment between life and death, to represent our country in the global stage for many more years to come.
== Sri Lanka Cricket == 