On the third day of the second test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Lahore, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by masked gunmen numbering nearly a dozen. The players escaped with about five of them sustaining minor non-critical injuries. Five security personnel however were killed in the gun battle. Cricinfo link.
Speaking from Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya said that it was an “extremely unfortunate incident. “We’ve never had this kind of problem,” Jayasuriya told CNN-IBN. “They are all safe, that’s the good news I got when I spoke to Kumar. I don’t they they’ll stay back and play. I think they will come back as soon as possible. Depends on the injuries.”
The Sri Lankan team had stepped in after the Indian government had barred the Indian team from touring Pakistan after the terror attack in Mumbai.
A couple of weeks ago, ICC Chief Haroon Lorgat had directed the World cup organizing committee to monitor the security situation in Pakistan for hosting the world cup in early months of 2011(link), the venue of the attack today, is the scheduled venue for hosting one of the semi-final matches in the world cup.
Today’s attack seems to be a co-ordinated attack by trained gunmen and news results are still pouring in about terrorists being battled in the city of Lahore, no word of any casualty on the terrorists’ side has yet been reported. News reports also indicate that the Sri Lankan team has been called back to Sri Lanka immediately.
Update:
The attackers – who came in a white car – lobbed two grenades at the bus carrying the players.
The gunmen, reportedly surrounded the team van and opened fire indiscriminately. They reportedly continuously fired for two to three minutes.
The attackers then started firing at a police van which was providing security to the Lankan team.
Officials said rocket launchers were used in the attack as well.
Looks like you are one of our regular visitors. Here is our RSS feed, just another way to keep up with the new posts.
Loading ...