Saturday 3 March 2012

When cricketers came under gunfire


Sri Lankan cricket team members wait for a Pakistani military helicopter before their departure from the playing surface at The National Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Pakistani air force helicopters evacuated the Sri Lankan cricket team -- including two players on stretchers -- from the stadium after a deadly ambush. 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. Up to 12 gunmen attacked the team's convoy near the Gaddafi stadium with rockets, hand grenades and automatic weapons, triggering a 25-minute gunbattle with security forces, said Lahore police chief chief Habib-ur Rehman. AFP PHOTO/Aamir QURESHI
A Sri Lankan cricket team player boards a Pakistani military helicopter from the playing surface at The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Pakistani air force helicopters evacuated the Sri Lankan cricket team -- including two players on stretchers -- from the stadium after a deadly ambush. 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
Pakistan's cricket team captain Younus Khan (R) walks past a bullet–ridden bus which was carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team, parked outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Pakistani air force helicopters evacuated the Sri Lankan cricket team -- including two players on stretchers -- from the stadium after a deadly ambush. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, 

Pakistani drivers sit in a parked bullet–ridden bus, which was carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team, outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Pakistani air force helicopters evacuated the Sri Lankan cricket team -- including two players on stretchers -- from the stadium after a deadly ambush. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least eight people

Pakistani paramedics transport injured Sri Lankan cricketer Thilan Samaraweeraat on a stretcher at a hospital following a deadly ambush on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Pakistani air force helicopters evacuated the Sri Lankan cricket team -- including two players on stretchers -- from the stadium after a deadly ambush. Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in the eastern Pakistani city

David Morgan (L) International Cricket Council (ICC) President and Haroon Lorgat Chief Executive brief the media at Lords Cricket ground in north-west London on March 3, 2009. The International Cricket Council said Tuesday it will discuss next month whether Pakistan can remain as a venue for the 2011 World Cup but cast doubt on the prospect after the Lahore attacks. AFP PHOTO/Shaun Curry

LAHORE, PAKISTAN - MARCH 03: Members of the Sri Lankan international cricket team board a rescue helicopter at the Gadaffi Stadium on March 3, 2009 in Lahore, Pakistan. The team were attacked in a coach as it travelled through the heart of Lahore, leaving five Pakistani policeman dead and several team members injured.

Pakistani securuty officials display the weapons used by gunmen during an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Attackers armed with guns and grenades launched a brazen assault on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Pakistan on March 3, killing eight people and wounding seven members of the squad. The attack in the city of Lahore sparked condemnation from around the world and threw a massive question mark over the future

Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis (L) and Tharanga Paranavithana (C) and assistant coach Paul Farbrace (R) are taken aboard an ambulance on March 4, 2009 shortly after flying home from Pakistan where the Sri Lankan team was ambushed by gunmen just before entering a cricket stadium in Lahore. Seven players were wounded in the attack that also killed eight Pakistani nationals and drew wide spread international condemnation

Sri Lankan player Thilan Samaraweera is taken aboard an ambulance March 04, 2009 accompanied by his wife, Manjula and their daughter, shortly after flying home from Pakistan where the Sri Lankan team was ambushed by gunmen just before entering a cricket stadium in Lahore. Seven players were wounded in the attack that also killed eight Pakistani nationals and drew wide spread international condemnation.

Sri Lankan cricket team captain Mahela Jayawardene speaks with journalists after returning in Colombo on March 4, 2009 after escaping an assault in an ambush outside a cricket stadium in Pakistan. As Sri Lanka's wounded and shaken players arrived back, Pakistani forces scoured this cosmopolitan eastern city of Lahore for up to 12 attackers after the brazen assault that left eight dead and wounded eight of the touring party



Pakistani cricket fan Sufi Abdul Jalil waves a national flag in front of the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on march 6, 2009. Pakistan's most famous cricket fan refused to believe the game can die in the troubled country following on March 3 attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers. Jalil, famous as Uncle Cricket,or Chacha Cricket in Urdu, lives on cricket and wants to die serving the game. He shudders at the thought of "no cricket" in Pakistan

Sri Lankan cricket player Thilan Samaraweera, recovering from gunshot wounds, looks on as he attends an inter-provincial Twenty20 match at the Sinhalease Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo on March 25, 2009. The Sri Lankan team was ambushed by gunmen just before entering a cricket stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Seven players were wounded in the attack that also killed eight Pakistani nationals

Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar sangakkara (R) and Muttiah Muralitharan (L) train during an inter-provincial Twenty20 match at the Sinhalease Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo on March 25, 2009. The Sri Lankan team was ambushed by gunmen just before entering a cricket stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Seven players were wounded in the attack that also killed eight Pakistani nationals and drew widespread international condemnation
Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis watches an inter-provincial Twenty20 match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo on March 25, 2009. The Sri Lankan team was ambushed by gunmen just before entering a cricket stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009. Seven players were wounded in the attack that also killed eight Pakistani nationals and drew widespread international condemnation. AFP PHOTO/Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI

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