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Terror Attack on sri lankan cricket team & umpires in pakistan
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakv...ory/393212.html
http://blogs.cricinfo.com/pakspin/a..._is_the_end.php
Gunmen have attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team as they were being taken by bus to a match in Pakistan.
Gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan team's bus
At least seven players were injured, along with their British assistant coach Paul Farbrace.
Five police officers and the driver of a second coach travelling behind the team bus were killed. One umpire was hurt.
A dozen masked men armed with rifles, rocket launchers and grenades took part in the attack. They are still on the run.
There are local reports that police have made four arrests. "Two of the suspects were armed," resident Adnam Ali told Sky News.
The squad was being taken to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the start of the third day of the second test against Pakistan when the attack happened.
Lahore police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said: "It was a terrorist attack."
The injured players include Thilan Samaraweera, Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Thushara.
Samaraweera, who is believed to have been shot in the thigh, and Paranavitana are in hospital with more serious injuries.
Bus driver Mehar Mohammad Khalil told how he steered the vehicle to safety.
"I was turning the bus towards the stadium near the main roundabout when I saw a rocket fired at us," he said. "It missed us and hit an electric pole after which all hell broke loose.
"When the firing started one of the players shouted 'go, go' and somehow I kept my cool, ducked and pressed the accelerator and sped the bus towards the stadium.
"God helped us because they also threw a grenade under the bus which exploded after the bus had passed over it," he added.
Sky producer Gavin Scovell is at the stadium and has spoken to coach Trevor Bayliss, who received minor injuries according to Sky News Australia.
Mr Scovell told Sky News: "They were ambushed around 50 yards from the stadium by gunmen who sprayed either side of the bus with bullets. They all hit the deck. Most of the players were hit by shrapnel but two were more seriously hurt."
Former England cricketer Dominic Cork, who is there as a commentator, was caught up in the attack and told Sky News he would never return to the country.
"I won't be coming back here while I'm still living," he said, "there is no chance."
He added: "I don't think international cricket should return to this country."
Sky correspondent Alex Crawford said: "Our police sources are telling us there had been a threat that the Sri Lankan team may be attacked. That came on Monday and a different route was taken.
"But that seemed to make no difference. Police believe there were 12 gunmen, they were well informed and they attacked on four different sides using AK-47s and throwing hand grenades.
"It was a sophisticated attack, which the Punjab governor is likening to the attack seen in Mumbai in India - even suggesting that there may be the same people involved in the organising of this attack."
Three hours after the attack, at least eight players and team officials left the Gadaffi stadium on a Pakistani army helicopter that took off from the pitch.
International Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "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."
The Sri Lankan team were in Pakistan only after India pulled out of its Test series following the Mumbai terror attacks.
:: In New Zealand, the country's cricket team and their Indian opponents put on black arm bands, describing the shootings in Pakistan as a "frightening" development in sport.
With umpires from australia & england, english commentators and the fact Sri Lanka only went because India refused to after the Mumbai attacks, this is fucking stupid. For Samaraweera who entered history books yesterday by scoring 200+ runs in 2 games in a row amongst a few great names in history, today must suck with him being shot in the thigh. As a cricket & sports fan, I'm in shock cos as a cricket fan and as someone with friends & family who travel abroad to support teams, it's shit.
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