“At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the injured people and also the families of those who have died.“I have confirmed with both member boards that the remainder of the tour has been cancelled and we are working hard to get our match officials out of the area as safely and as quickly as possible.Haroon Lorgat expressed his sadness at the shocking events in Lahore today “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.”Australia captain Ricky Ponting and South Africa skipper Graeme Smith admitted the attack had been felt in South Africa, where the sides are involved in a Test series.“On behalf of the Australian cricket team I would like to express our deepest condolences to those who have been affected by the tragic events in Pakistan this morning,” said Ponting.“An act of violence like this is a terrible thing and when it involves those who are part of our cricketing family, players the world over are affected.“The wider cricketing community has been shocked by what has occurred and our thoughts and full support is with those involved.“We have spoken with members of the Sri Lankan team this morning and made them aware we are extremely saddened by what has happened and that our best wishes are with them all.“We hope that those who have been injured in these attacks can make a full and quick recovery and return to representing their country soon.”Smith added: “The word ‘tragedy’ is often used to describe a setback on a sporting field but this is a real tragedy.“It is a tragedy for all the people of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, it is a tragedy for cricket and it is a tragedy for all decent people.“There is a tremendous brotherhood between players around the world and at this moment the South African team extends its sympathy to all those who have been affected by this terrible event.“We are hurting after our defeat yesterday but this puts into perspective what real suffering is. Our thoughts are with the players and we hope that they arrive home safely to their families.”Australia pulled out of a scheduled tour of Pakistan last year because of security concerns, with five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 now scheduled in the United Arab Emirates starting next month.Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene paid tribute Tuesday to the heroism of his team's bus driver and security forces after gunmen opened fire at the Sri Lankan team bus and killed six police officers Tuesday."We are obviously all still shocked and shaken after this morning's attacks and all very relieved that no one in the team was seriously injured," Jayawardene said in a statement.At least 12 men armed with grenades, rocket launchers and automatic weapons attacked the team bus Tuesday at a roundabout close to the Gaddafi stadium in the eastern Pakistan. Attackers fired a rocket that caused a "huge explosion" next to the bus but did not damage it, bus driver Mohammad Khalil said.Seconds later, an attacker jumped in front of the bus and hurled a grenade at it, which also missed."We were very lucky to escape this terrible ambush and we are extremely grateful to those that showed such courage in trying to protect us," Jayawardene said.
The bus wound up with 25 bullet holes, its front windshield shattered. When it reached the stadium, bloodied players were taken out.
"We owe the team bus driver our lives for his remarkable bravery in the face of direct gunfire," Jayawardene said. "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."We are now looking forward to returning home to Sri Lanka to be with our families."The incident is one of the most high-profile attacks on a sports team since the killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.Pakistan captain Younis Khan met with the Sri Lankan players at the airport. They were scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka later Tuesday."As an ordinary Pakistani I think it's too bad as it happened to our guests," said Khan, who was with teammates Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq. "I met with captain Jayawardene, (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Ajantha) Mendis and they have no complaints from anyone. They took it as a bad experience for them."
Khan said he did not believe it was a security lapse.
"It's not a security failure because such a thing has never happened in sports in Pakistan," Khan said. "Full marks to the bus driver who drove the Sri Lankan team to the stadium."Khan said Jayawardene has a scratch on his foot, Mendis was hurt by glass and Samaraweera was also slightly injured."Murli told me that the driver didn't panic and he even gave his shirt and cash award to the driver," Khan said.Khan said it was sad that such an incident happened in the last Test for Jayawardene, who will be quitting the captaincy after the two-Test series against Pakistan.
1 comment :
this attack on Sri Lanka's unsuspecting Cricket team is tragic because of the deaths and because of the long term effect this will have internationally
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