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"The tour has come to an end. We are in touch with Pakistan authorities and their Cricket Board. The players will be coming home as soon as possible," informed Cohona.
At least six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at them killing five police personnel escorting the team to the Gaddafi stadium for the third day of the second Test.
The injured cricketers include Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis and Thilan Samaraweera.
"They are doing everything possible to make the players comfortable and the injured are being taken care of. (Pakistan) Government has assured us all the security," he said.
Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association Secretary Graeme Labrooy said he spoke to captain Mahela Jayawardene and found out that everyone was safe barring injuries to some players.
"I just spoke to Jayawardene. All are safe, barring injuries to a few players," he said.
"Six players are injured, including (Thilan) Samaraveera who is shot in leg. He undergoing treatment in hospital while others are in Gaddafi Stadium," he said.
Lankan cricket team could be flown back today
Sri Lankan cricket team, which was attacked by unidentified gunmen near the cricket stadium in Lahore this morning, is likely to be brought home this evening in a special flight.
"Efforts are on to bring back the cricket team along with the injured cricketers at the earliest and they could be brought back by a special plane this evening," sources said. Sri Lankan Cricket Chief Executive Officer Dilip Mendis both Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Thushara are in hospital after sustaining injuries.
"The two players are in hospital but are out of danger," Mendis told reporters adding "we are trying to get the team out of Pakistan as early as possible".
Mendis also said assistant coach of the Sri Lankan team Paul Farbrace was injured along with some players. He also assured that the cricketers were safe and speedy measures were being taken to bring them back into Sri Lanka at the earliest.
Cricket commentator and former Sri Lankan cricketers Roshan Abeysinghe told a TV channel from Lahore that Lankan cricket players were air lifted by helicopter from the cricket ground to a safer place.
Meanwhile, commotion broke out in Sri Lankan Parliament following the attack in Lahore, with Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge being questioned by the Opposition Marxist JVP Members on the security provided to the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan.
Lokuge told the Members that cricket team had been provided with adequate security and that he too watched the match that was held in Karachi and was contended about the security arrangements.
Former Sri Lankan cricket captain and Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga recalled in Parliament the support provided by India and Pakistan to Sri Lanka on the security matters during the holding of the 1996 World Cup cricket tournament in the sub continent.
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incredible e that Taliban terrorists should attack Sri Lankan cricket team, validating India's charge of Pakistan giving a free hand to so-called non-State terrorists. allowingsiestablishing
I am not surprised at all with this news.The teaching of this particular religion is given in childhood ( history current future) would not produce any peace loving person and will only create terrorist.It's wake up call for all indians (expcept 20% community not belonging to india) we should unite and fight these fanatic people.Jai Hind Vande Mataram
The Srilankan Team is Half mind Team They should learn to see the other countrys what they done, Australlia,South Africa,India dint visited,to Pak they Know About the Dangeours about to visiting,Lankans should learn From Other countries in Future.
Fist of all why the hell you went there.
Ask Ranatunga. He was the culprit in pushing the tour. where is he now?
The problem of Pakistan is that they dont know the purpose of their existence. They are still exploring it. They believe, it should be India, read Kashmir, centric only. Militants are not their problem, their problem ISI. They cannot leave or live with ISI.
It is not only the cricketers of Sri Lanka being attacked; all those who like peace and like sports are attacked. It is very dangerous for the whole world to leave these extremists growing. The entire world should join hands to get rid off these terrorists
There should be an International ban imposed on Pakistan. This is the only way of making pakistan fighting against its own terrorists.
Sri Lanka deserves this.After what hapenned in Mumbai -- India and other countries decided to shun International cricket in Pakistan.They are either naive or stupid or motivated by money to make this tour in Pakistan.Pakistan cannot even protect its own people, and somehow its going to manage to protect a foreign cricket team.
First of all, the attak is deplorable. However it is a good lesson for Sri Lanka, who did not pay heed to India, and took an emotional decision to show solidarity with pakistan ( the land of terrosists ) against India.
Just because Pakistan was loosing to the match does not mean they have to kill the opposite team. This is dastardly! Next time, just don't play with Pakistan.
I will not be surprised if Pakistan Government start blaming India for this Attack. They will claim that, India has planned this to implicate Pakistan
Those who live by the sword die by the sword. If Islam is a religion by the sword, it will die by its sword only. Its just a matter of time.
I think this is the best quote i have got on this site about religion which is enemy of peace.
It is becoming clear that Pakistan is a failed experiment. A country built on hate cannot survive for long. It is time for the international community to wind up Pakistan under chapter 11.
Isolate the supporters of terrorists.Isolate all the organizations who follow violence as a means to achieve their goal- justified or otherwise. A full-scale global effort may be initiated against all the terrorist oufits. The global effort may also include alternative approaches as advocated by Martin Luther King III. International sports events must avoid all countries who are known to have direct or indirect links with terrorist organizations. No country should permit the stay of terrorists. Countries who give shelter to terrorists must face international ban. Unless a united and coordinated global effort is made terrorism cannot be eradicated and the civilized world, innocent people, wiil have to pay huge price. There could be a catastrophe if by any chance the terrorists get access to nuclear arms. Better the world wakes up very fast and take tangible action to end terrorism.
Now Arundhati Roy will say that the attack on the Lankan team is because of Babri Mandir demolition!!!
i m also thinkng..y we cant blame ram sena,rss or bajrang dal or narendra modi...our vote bank will be much happy with these type of statements
When Pak government cannot ensure security for their own, to expect that they can provide security to others is like a fool returning home.
Ban Pakistan immediately from all INternational ties - All countries
Oh Pakistani terrorists, You are too clumsy for a decent peace loving society in the world and you ought to be eleimiated or wiped out at all costs for the welfare of universal peace and brotherhood. Will the world act unitiedly against this epicentre of terrorism and breeding ground of global terrorists to wipe them out with an iron hand ??? Instead USA will increase its aid and sympathy towards Pakistan. China will covertly and overtly help it to acheive its nuclear and missile technology.
Sri Lankans willingly decided to show the world (nay India) that they were right. Having reaped the fruits of failure, we should stop sympathising with Sri Lankans!
Ohh..yesss! Now, "protecting visiting sports teams" could be an itemized addition to Pak's laundry list to the US. HH1 and HH2, the Pak reps. in the US (as the respected Pak columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee calls them!) can now work on Kerry and other cuckoo birds to get a few more billion for "enhanced security". It is appalling, the impunity with which these monsters strike within Pak. Most attempts turn out to be guaranteed strikes. Sorry, but the situation in Pak. seems truly irreversible.
Javed Miandad and others have cried hoarse when India decided not to our Pakistan. Let these Pakistanis and their sympathisers come out openly and state their views now. One should not forget to include A.R. Antulay in this list who can came out with lame excuses (after all her only can make errors!).
And those stupid Indians who said sports and politics should not be mixed up and tour must go on - what they have to say now? They must be hiding covering their dirty faces in shame. These idiots should know that politics