Shootout at Lohore:A Black day for Cricket

In a horrendous act of inhuman behaviour, a group of terrorist made a dreadful attack on the touring Sri Lankan cricket team while they were on their way to the stadium from the hotel on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. In this attack, six Sri Lankan cricketers got injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at them killing six police personnel escorting the team to the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. It is said that the terrorists were armed with rockets, grenades and kalashnikovs that were used in the attack.

 

The attack took place at Liberty Chowk in the heart of the Lahore city located less than a kilometre from the venue of the match. The players who are reported to have been on the receiving end are Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Jayawardene, Tharanga Paranavithana and Chaminda Vaas. However, it is a matter of relief that all of them are out of danger. The coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team, Australian Trevor Bayliss also suffered minor injuries in the event along with Paul Farbrace, one of the support staff members, and the 4th Umpire Ahsan Raza.

 

It is said that there were twelve attackers in all who came in a white car and lobbed two rockets aimed at the bus carrying players to the stadium, but luckily both of them missed the bus and hit a nearby tower which caused massive explosion. Consequently, the terrorists got down and reportedly surrounded the team van and opened fire indiscriminately and continued to fire for about two to three minutes. Though there was police protection for the players, but all turned to be inadequate and after cross firing for 20 minutes, the gunmen were able to flee from the site.

 

In an immediate response, the Sri Lankan tour has been called off and the team is to be immediately pulled out of Pakistan. The team is to be flown back on the very first available flight. However, Pakistan has extended its apology for the whole act, but this isn’t going to assuage the deep hurt inflicted on the players. This is an incident of first kind where we have seen a team being directly targetted in such a shameful manner.

 

Now, just see the irony. It was the Sri Lankan which tried to revive Pakistan cricket when other foreign teams decided not to tour Pakistan due to terrorist attacks. Sri Lanka came in to fill the void created by India’s calling off the tour after 26/11 Mumbai mayhem. But what would you say now- they have been subjected to a cowardly attack.

 

Once again the concerns are to raise heads related to conducting sporting activities in a peaceful environment in Pakistan, which at the moment seems to be a distant dream. It has been a long debated issue whether Pakistan is fit for foreign countries to travel there and play matches, but what transpired on Tuesday says it all. Pakistan is not at all safe for sporting and other cultural activities, especially for foreign nationals.

 

This shootout on Sri Lankan team could be termed as the saddest episode in the history of cricket. Another such incident took place during Munich Olympics in 1972 when Israeli sportsmen were targeted. This incident has cast heavy doubts on the future of cricket in Pakistan. Touring Pakistan has always been questioned by countries like Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa over the last few years. Even India which had supported Pakistan showed thumbs down after 26/11 attacks. These attacks have put a stamp on the claims that Pakistan is a dangerous place to tour. God knows if teams would dare to tour Pakistan in the coming times.                                                                                                                                                        From 
                                                                                                                Pandey jai