IPL may be put off, 2011 World Cup may avoid Pakistan

Till Tuesday, 'tis not cricket' had a connotation quite different from what it might be in the future.

The assassination of 11 Israelis by Palestinians in the Munich Olympic Village in 1972 remains the most dastardly act of violence in modern sports history. But yesterday's terrorist attack by a dozen armed gunmen on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore is no less diabolical even if there have been fewer casualties, and no player has died.

Cricket-loving Gujarat has articulated concern for Sri Lanka’s cricketers who were attacked in Lahore, and expressed the gravest of reservations about Pakistan being included in any sports itinerary in the near future.

Lahore, Mar. 3 : Recounting the horror tale of the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket players and other officials, Umpire Nadeem Ghauri said that the attack was so sudden that they couldn’t make out as to what was happening amid bullets coming from all directions.

Ghauri, who was officiating in the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka as a field umpire, said the attackers targeted the bus from all directions.

Lahore, Mar. 3 : Sri Lanka vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, who sustained shrapnel injuries in the terror attack, has said that all the Lankan players were safe and out of danger.

"There are a few injuries but everyone is safe and all the players are out of danger. We are shocked, but apart from that everyone is okay,” The Daily Express quoted Sangakkara, as saying.

Sangakkara confirmed that he and other players Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana had sustained injuries, but were out of danger.

Lahore, Mar. 3 : The terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team on Tuesday in which six Lankan players were injured, also had the Australian coach of the team, Trevor Bayliss in the firing line.

Bayliss escaped unhurt in the incident, but not before two of the gun shots hit the windowpane next to him.

After the attack, Bayliss called his wife, Julie, in Sydney to confirm that he was alright.

Julie said that Bayliss was fine, and would be returning back home soon.

Lahore, Mar. 3: The commando attack on the Sri Lankan players’ on Tuesday here had Lankan players ducking inside their seats of the bus they were traveling -in to secure themselves.

Talking to reporters shortly after the attack, Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardene said that the attackers first targeted the wheels of the bus and then opened indiscriminate firing on the bus.

Jayawardene also confirmed that five players were injured in the ambush, but luckily no one sustained serious injuries.