5TH LEAD

Sri Lankan cricket team shot in Pakistan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 March 2009, 04:45 GMT]
Sri Lankan cricket team which was on its way to participate in the second day of Test match in Lahore, the eastern city of Pakistan, was shot and six players were wounded in the episode that took place around 9:30 a.m. Pakistan time, according to initial reports in Colombo. Five Pakistani police officials escorting the Sri Lankan team in a bus were killed instantly in the gunfire, the reports said. Four of the players are discharged from the hospital and two are still undergoing treatment.

Six Sri Lankan Test cricketers including Paul Farbrace, the assistant coach of the team, were wounded and rushed to hospital. Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Ajantha Mendis and Tharanga Paranawithana were among the wounded, according to Sri Lankan authorities in Colombo.

The cricket team was heading to Gadaffi stadium when the attack took place.

The attackers have reportedly opened fire after lobbing grenades, according to initial reports.

The issue was taken up in the Sri Lankan parliament and the Sri Lankan Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamlni Lokuge said the members were safe and the Test series was called off. Two of the players were still receiving treatment at the hospital, he said.