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The Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by terrorists during their Pakistan tour of 2009 that resulted in the several deaths and injuries.
Sri Lankan cricket team members disembark from a Pakistani military helicopter onto the playing surface at The National Stadium in Lahore. (AFP Photo)
It’s been nearly 16 years since a terrorist attack on a Sri Lankan cricket team near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore (Pakistan) shook the world. Several gunmen attacked the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team on March 3, 2009 resulting in the death of six policemen and two others besides.
Several others were injured including members of the Sri Lankan squad and it resulted in Pakistan not being able to host international tournaments for almost a decade.
International cricket has slowly returned to Pakistan and the country is set to host its first ICC tournament since 1996.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Bari, who was the Director in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) when the militant attack took place in 2009, has recalled the details of the fateful day.
“It was the worst day in my life when news came through of what had happened. Everyone was numb and most of us in our offices realised immediately this was going to put Pakistan cricket back by a few years,” Bari was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The visuals of bullet-ridden bus and vans carrying the match officials and umpires in blood-stained shirts left a lasting impact and Bari feels that it meant Pakistan’s hopes of hosting a Champions Trophy and 2011 ODI World Cup went up in flames.
“It should never have happened and the result was Pakistan cricket couldn’t properly grow for the next 10 years, as all teams refused to play in Pakistan for security reasons,” Bari said.
Bari is now happy that top international teams have arrived in the country for the Champions Trophy.
“To see England, Australian, South African, New Zealand and Afghanistan teams in Karachi and Lahore means so much to all Pakistani cricketers, board officials and the fans,” he said.
“I think it is also a time to pay tribute to the resilience of Pakistan cricket while hosting the Champions Trophy, after all that has happened in the last 10 years,” he added.
- Location :
Karachi, Pakistan
