Sri Lanka reacts

Indian board anguished by attack on Sri Lanka team

Jatila KARAWITA

The father of Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Mahela Jayawardena - Senerath Jayawardena condemned the dastardly terror attack directed at the team in Lahore, Pakistan, yesterday while being in a state of shock and disbelief.

“I am not in a proper frame of mind to speak to the media right now,” he said.

A Pakistani bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers entering The Gaddafi Stadium after masked gunmen attacked Sri Lankan team in Lahore on on Tuesday. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least eight people and wounding six team members, police said.

Jayawardena senior though, noted that his son had received minor injuries along with a few other team-mates of his that the entire national team had been moved to a safer location following the deadly attack near the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore where the Second and Final Test-match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was being played.

“Till I get more news to confirm the condition of the players, I kindly refuse to speak to the media,” he added.

At least six members of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team touring Pakistan (Tharanga Paranavithana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas and Ajantha Mendis) were injured in a shooting incident close to the cricket grounds in Lahore yesterday.

The gruesome incident occurred when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying the Sri Lanka players to the venue.

A Pakistani policemen inspecting a police motorcycle after masked gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on Tuesday. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least eight people and wounding six team members, police said.	A Pakistani EDHI volunteer covers the body of a policeman after masked gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least eight people and wounding six team members, police said.

At least five Policemen have been killed in the attack, reports from Pakistan further said.

Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge when contacted said that early reports had indicated injuries to six players and the team’s Assistant Coach - Englishman Paul Farbrace and that following the injuries the players had been treated at a Lahore Hospital and moved to a safer location, and from where the team will be flown home.

The incident promptly forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to cancel with the third day of the second-Test about to begin.

Former SLC Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga when contacted said that the Lahore attack directed at Mahela Jayawardane’s team would go down in the annals of the game as the first such incident despite there being recent occurrences on the periphery of cricket.

“To my knowledge this is the first-time ever that a cricket team was targeted by terrorists or for that matter anyone else”, Ranatunga said.

“Even the recent Mumbai attacks were not specifically targetted at the England players, though the incident forced the ECB to abort the tour mid-way.”

I am not in a proper frame of mind to speak to the media right now - Senerath Jayawardena Mahela’s father	To my knowledge this is the first-time ever that a cricket team was targeted by terrorists or for that matter anyone else - Ranatunga

Ranatunga, the 1996 World Cup-winning skipper said that the Lahore attack could present cricket officials in the region with fresh problems, with the Indian Sub-Continent slated to host the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

He also urged cricketing officials to address the issue of terrorism seeping into sports more so to the region’s most popular game and that the attack on Sri Lanka cricketers would be an eye-opener for government here to root out terrorism for good.

“This is going to be a huge problem now”, Ranatunga who is a UPFA MP said. “This was the last thing cricket needed, to battle terrorists as if though it did not have enough problems already.

“In my view the Cricket Boards of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh must tackle this issue jointly if the game is to be played in a free and peaceful atmosphere.”

Asked whether the PCB can be absolved of blame from the attack, Ranatunga dismissed such suggestions and said as the host country the PCB cannot ‘wriggle out of the situation’. “Well, I don’t know for sure whether security was lax or not”, he explained.

“That is something for the SLC and the Government to inquire from their counterparts in Pakistan.

“But, one is sure and that is that the team was specifically targetted, and no one can either hide or deny that fact.”

Pakistani policemen standing guard as a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers enters The Gaddafi Stadium after masked gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on Tuesday. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least eight people and wounding six team members, police said. AFP

Arjuna Ranatunga also revealed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently on a three-day official visit to Nepal had been briefed on the situation in Pakistan and that he had ordered Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to visit Pakistan and facilitate the early return of the team to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, popular cricket commentator and analyst Roshan Abayasinghe, stated that the Lahore terror attack launched at the team could have wider ramifications not only for cricket in the region, but for all sports activities in the Sub-Continent.

He added that looking deeply into the incident it was obvious that it had been a pre-planned attack and that it could have spilled into a huge international issue if it has not already if at least one of the players had succumbed to their injuries.

Abayasinghe, who is also the Manager of mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis who is one of the injured players said that condition of the latter was fine and that all the players from news available to him were out of ‘any life-threatening injury’.

Cricket Australia ‘shocked’ by shootings

Cricket Australia expressed shock and condemnation at Tuesday’s attacks on the Sri Lankan team touring Pakistan.

“Australian cricket has many friends in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan and we sincerely hope they are all safe after this awful incident,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Early reports are unclear but we are deeply saddened to hear reports that security officials in Pakistan have been killed in this attack.

“We will be seeking to talk to Sri Lankan and Pakistan cricket officials as soon as possible to pass on our condolences.” Australia’s former Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody was also shocked by the attack, which left five members of the Sri Lankan cricket team wounded.

“My thoughts and prayers are not only with my friends in the Sri Lankan cricket team, but with the families of everyone that has been killed or injured in today’s attack,” Moody said.” Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 because of fears over the safety of their players.

The world champions postponed a tour scheduled for last year after a spate of suicide bombings following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Australia also withdrew from the Champions Trophy, which was due to be held in Pakistan last year, but was moved to a new venue still to be decided.

Australia’s decision, taken after they received advice from government and independent security organisations, upset the Pakistan Cricket Board, who accused them of double standards.

Australia had allowed its players to compete in the lucrative Indian Premier League, despite safety concerns about visiting India.

Last month Australia and Pakistan announced they had reached an agreement to play a series of one-day internationals and a Twenty20 at a neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates in April and May.

SYDNEY, Tuesday (Reuters)