Broad hailed as hero during machine gun attacks in Lahore that injured seven Sri Lanka cricketers

Former England Test opener Chris Broad risked his life to protect a colleague injured during attacks by a dozen gunmen in Lahore.

Broad, the match referee for the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was in a minibus pounced upon by the attackers close to the Gaddafi Stadium.
Seven Sri Lanka players were injured when their team bus was targeted on the way to the match. And at least five police and security guards were killed during an exchange of gunfire.

Broad walked around in a blood-stained shirt following the attacks while umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis looked dazed.
It has emerged that Broad lay on top of Ahsan Raza to try to protect his colleague after the local umpire had been critically wounded in the initial stages of the assault.

Pakistani Test umpire Nadeem Ghouri hailed the 'very brave' act, adding: 'It was horrifying. There were bullets flying around us and we didn't know what was happening.
'When the firing started we all went down on the floor of the coach. Our driver was killed instantly from a shot from the front.'

Sri Lanka players Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were being treated in hospital. Team captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranka Lakmal and Chaminda Vaas had minor injuries.

Former Kent and Middlesex wicket-keeper Paul Farbrace, who is Sri Lanka's assistant coach, was also hurt, but none was thought to be in a serious condition.
The players were on their way to face Pakistan for the third day of the second Test.
Former England Test opener Chris Broad, father of current England star Stuart, was the match referee and was in a vehicle following the Sri Lanka team into the ground when the attack occurred.

Former England fast bowler Dominic Cork was also in Lahore doing media work and witnessed the attack, describing it as a 'blood bath'.
Reports suggest five policemen were killed during a 15-minute gun battle. None of the gunmen is thought to have been caught or killed.

The remainder of the tour has been cancelled and the attack will undoubtedly place a huge question mark over the immediate future of international cricket in the troubled country.

Witness: Dominic Cork was in Lahore doing media work
Cork said: 'I won't be coming back here while I'm still living. There is no chance. I don't think international cricket should return to this country.'

Describing the incident, the former England fast bowler said: 'All of a sudden the gunmen turned their machine guns on the driver of the bus and windows imploded.
'That's when glass and metal showered the Sri Lanka players and they sustained shrapnel wounds from ricochets.
'The players are quite shocked. They all fell to the floor of the team bus when the attack happened.
Broad hailed as hero during machine gun attacks in Lahore that injured seven Sri Lanka cricketers
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:00 PM on 03rd March 2009

Comments (2) Add to My Stories Former England Test opener Chris Broad risked his life to protect a colleague injured during attacks by a dozen gunmen in Lahore.
Broad, the match referee for the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was in a minibus pounced upon by the attackers close to the Gaddafi Stadium.
Seven Sri Lanka players were injured when their team bus was targeted on the way to the match. And at least five police and security guards were killed during an exchange of gunfire.

Gunmen fire at police and Sri Lanka cricketers
More...Details of injuries to Sri Lanka players shot in Lahore terrorist ambush
Miandad, Waqar and Latif insist: Pakistan has lost all chance of hosting the 2011 World Cup now

'Dismayed' ICC chief Lorgat condemns Lahore attack
Injured Sri Lanka vice captain Sangakkara confirms: My players are safe after terrorist attack on team bus
History of violence: Sportsmail looks back at other tours and series called off in Pakistan
NEWS STORY: Sri Lankan cricket team attacked by gunmen in Pakistan while being bussed to test match


Broad walked around in a blood-stained shirt following the attacks while umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis looked dazed.
It has emerged that Broad lay on top of Ahsan Raza to try to protect his colleague after the local umpire had been critically wounded in the initial stages of the assault.

Pakistani Test umpire Nadeem Ghouri hailed the 'very brave' act, adding: 'It was horrifying. There were bullets flying around us and we didn't know what was happening.
'When the firing started we all went down on the floor of the coach. Our driver was killed instantly from a shot from the front.'

Sri Lanka players Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were being treated in hospital. Team captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranka Lakmal and Chaminda Vaas had minor injuries.

Former Kent and Middlesex wicket-keeper Paul Farbrace, who is Sri Lanka's assistant coach, was also hurt, but none was thought to be in a serious condition.

The players were on their way to face Pakistan for the third day of the second Test.
Former England Test opener Chris Broad, father of current England star Stuart, was the match referee and was in a vehicle following the Sri Lanka team into the ground when the attack occurred.

Former England fast bowler Dominic Cork was also in Lahore doing media work and witnessed the attack, describing it as a 'blood bath'.
Reports suggest five policemen were killed during a 15-minute gun battle. None of the gunmen is thought to have been caught or killed.


Scroll down for more

Rescue mission: A helicopter, carrying the Sri Lankan officials and players, takes off from Gaddafi Stadium
The remainder of the tour has been cancelled and the attack will undoubtedly place a huge question mark over the immediate future of international cricket in the troubled country.

Witness: Dominic Cork was in Lahore doing media work
Cork said: 'I won't be coming back here while I'm still living. There is no chance.

I don't think international cricket should return to this country.'
Describing the incident, the former England fast bowler said: 'All of a sudden the gunmen turned their machine guns on the driver of the bus and windows imploded.
'That's when glass and metal showered the Sri Lanka players and they sustained shrapnel wounds from ricochets.
'The players are quite shocked. They all fell to the floor of the team bus when the attack happened.



A bullet hole in the window of the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus
'Some of them have wounds but I think most of them are superficial wounds. I have spoken to (Kumar) Sangakkarra, he has a shrapnel wound in his right shoulder.
'The team are sitting in the changing room watching local TV. They are waiting for helicopters to arrive to take them to a local army base and wait for a connecting flight to Abu Dhabi.'

Uninjured members of the team have since been evacuated by helicopter that flew into the Gaddafi Stadium. A team official said they had already left the country and would arrive in Colombo tomorrow morning
Cork said he had spoken to Broad, whose vehicle also came under attack just 100 metres from the stadium.
Injured: Farbrace

'He (Broad) said it was the most frightening experience of his life,' said Cork. 'Their driver was shot and they had to ask a policeman to drive them to the stadium.'

About 12 gunmen, arriving at the scene on auto rickshaws, are thought to have been involved in the attack. Grenades and rocket launchers were found by police.
Officials said the incident bore similarities to the deadly attacks in Mumbai last November, when at least 173 were killed by assailants claimed to be Pakistan-based Islamic militants.

Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge confirmed two of the players were receiving treatment in hospital including Samaraweera, who injured his thigh.
Pakistan's one-day series with Australia will be played in United Arab Emirates in April and May because of the tourists' safety fears.

Hit in the the thigh by a bullet: Thilan Samaraweera
Pakistan are also co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup, with one semi-final slated for the Gaddafi Stadium.

Sri Lanka were contesting the first Test series to take place in Pakistan in 14 months.
Several teams have recently refused to tour Pakistan due to security concerns and last year's Champions Trophy was postponed over similar worries.

Sri Lanka were only in Pakistan after India had been barred by the Indian government from touring the country following the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan had reached 110 for one in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 606 all out at the end of day two of the Second Test. The first Test in Karachi had ended in a draw.

Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya told CNN-IBN: 'I just spoke to Kumar (Sangakkara) and the good news is everybody is safe and OK at the moment.
TV reports show bullets and weapons abandoned at the scene

'Mahela Jayawardene was also injured, but they are all safe at the moment. When we played three one-day games there we had no problems. That is why the team went back to Pakistan again for the Test series.
'We had a good game in Karachi and then they went to Lahore where this unfortunate incident has happened.

'These are things you cannot control and the players are shocked at the moment. This is obviously something they haven't gone through before as a cricket team. I feel for them. It's a terrible time.

'I can't say at the moment what impact this would have on Pakistan cricket, but the priority at the moment is to see that the Sri Lankan players are safe.'
The Test was being umpired by Simon Taufel and Steve Davies while Nadeem Ghauri was the TV umpire.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: 'We note with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation.
Broad hailed as hero during machine gun attacks in Lahore that injured seven Sri Lanka cricketers
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:00 PM on 03rd March 2009

Comments (2) Add to My Stories Former England Test opener Chris Broad risked his life to protect a colleague injured during attacks by a dozen gunmen in Lahore.
Broad, the match referee for the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was in a minibus pounced upon by the attackers close to the Gaddafi Stadium.
Seven Sri Lanka players were injured when their team bus was targeted on the way to the match. And at least five police and security guards were killed during an exchange of gunfire.

Gunmen fire at police and Sri Lanka cricketers
More...Details of injuries to Sri Lanka players shot in Lahore terrorist ambush
Miandad, Waqar and Latif insist: Pakistan has lost all chance of hosting the 2011 World Cup now

'Dismayed' ICC chief Lorgat condemns Lahore attack
Injured Sri Lanka vice captain Sangakkara confirms: My players are safe after terrorist attack on team bus
History of violence: Sportsmail looks back at other tours and series called off in Pakistan
NEWS STORY: Sri Lankan cricket team attacked by gunmen in Pakistan while being bussed to test match


Broad walked around in a blood-stained shirt following the attacks while umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis looked dazed.
It has emerged that Broad lay on top of Ahsan Raza to try to protect his colleague after the local umpire had been critically wounded in the initial stages of the assault.

Pakistani Test umpire Nadeem Ghouri hailed the 'very brave' act, adding: 'It was horrifying. There were bullets flying around us and we didn't know what was happening.
'When the firing started we all went down on the floor of the coach. Our driver was killed instantly from a shot from the front.'

Sri Lanka players Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were being treated in hospital. Team captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranka Lakmal and Chaminda Vaas had minor injuries.

Former Kent and Middlesex wicket-keeper Paul Farbrace, who is Sri Lanka's assistant coach, was also hurt, but none was thought to be in a serious condition.
The players were on their way to face Pakistan for the third day of the second Test.
Former England Test opener Chris Broad, father of current England star Stuart, was the match referee and was in a vehicle following the Sri Lanka team into the ground when the attack occurred.

Former England fast bowler Dominic Cork was also in Lahore doing media work and witnessed the attack, describing it as a 'blood bath'.
Reports suggest five policemen were killed during a 15-minute gun battle. None of the gunmen is thought to have been caught or killed.


Scroll down for more

Rescue mission: A helicopter, carrying the Sri Lankan officials and players, takes off from Gaddafi Stadium
The remainder of the tour has been cancelled and the attack will undoubtedly place a huge question mark over the immediate future of international cricket in the troubled country.

Witness: Dominic Cork was in Lahore doing media work
Cork said: 'I won't be coming back here while I'm still living. There is no chance. I don't think international cricket should return to this country.'
Describing the incident, the former England fast bowler said: 'All of a sudden the gunmen turned their machine guns on the driver of the bus and windows imploded.
'That's when glass and metal showered the Sri Lanka players and they sustained shrapnel wounds from ricochets.
'The players are quite shocked. They all fell to the floor of the team bus when the attack happened.



A bullet hole in the window of the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus
'Some of them have wounds but I think most of them are superficial wounds. I have spoken to (Kumar) Sangakkarra, he has a shrapnel wound in his right shoulder.
'The team are sitting in the changing room watching local TV. They are waiting for helicopters to arrive to take them to a local army base and wait for a connecting flight to Abu Dhabi.'

Uninjured members of the team have since been evacuated by helicopter that flew into the Gaddafi Stadium. A team official said they had already left the country and would arrive in Colombo tomorrow morning.

Wounded: Ajantha Mendis
Shot: Kumar Sangakkara
Cork said he had spoken to Broad, whose vehicle also came under attack just 100 metres from the stadium.
Injured: Farbrace
'He (Broad) said it was the most frightening experience of his life,' said Cork. 'Their driver was shot and they had to ask a policeman to drive them to the stadium.'
About 12 gunmen, arriving at the scene on auto rickshaws, are thought to have been involved in the attack. Grenades and rocket launchers were found by police.
Officials said the incident bore similarities to the deadly attacks in Mumbai last November, when at least 173 were killed by assailants claimed to be Pakistan-based Islamic militants.

Officers assess a police van caught up in the attack

Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge confirmed two of the players were receiving treatment in hospital including Samaraweera, who injured his thigh.
Pakistan's one-day series with Australia will be played in United Arab Emirates in April and May because of the tourists' safety fears.
Hit in the the thigh by a bullet: Thilan Samaraweera
Pakistan are also co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup, with one semi-final slated for the Gaddafi Stadium.
Sri Lanka were contesting the first Test series to take place in Pakistan in 14 months.
Several teams have recently refused to tour Pakistan due to security concerns and last year's Champions Trophy was postponed over similar worries.

Sri Lanka were only in Pakistan after India had been barred by the Indian government from touring the country following the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan had reached 110 for one in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings of 606 all out at the end of day two of the Second Test. The first Test in Karachi had ended in a draw.
Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya told CNN-IBN: 'I just spoke to Kumar (Sangakkara) and the good news is everybody is safe and OK at the moment.
TV reports show bullets and weapons abandoned at the scene

'Mahela Jayawardene was also injured, but they are all safe at the moment. When we played three one-day games there we had no problems. That is why the team went back to Pakistan again for the Test series.
'We had a good game in Karachi and then they went to Lahore where this unfortunate incident has happened.

'These are things you cannot control and the players are shocked at the moment. This is obviously something they haven't gone through before as a cricket team. I feel for them. It's a terrible time.
'I can't say at the moment what impact this would have on Pakistan cricket, but the priority at the moment is to see that the Sri Lankan players are safe.'
The Test was being umpired by Simon Taufel and Steve Davies while Nadeem Ghauri was the TV umpire.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: 'We note with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation.
Pakistani security officials collect a Rocket launcher at the site where unknown gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team

'It is a source of great sadness that there have been a number of fatalities in this attack and it is also very upsetting for the wider cricket family that some of the Sri Lanka players and one match official have been injured in this attack.

'At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the injured people and also the families of those who have died.'
Punjab Governor Salmaan Tahseer told CNN-IBN: 'This was an organised attack. They were terrorists. They used sophisticated weapons.
'We have arranged for the Sri Lankan players to be taken out to the airport and they

will fly out of the country this afternoon.'

Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland underlined Australian cricket was shocked by the events
Australia refused to tour Pakistan last year amid the unrest that followed the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

'We sincerely hope they are all safe after this awful incident,' he said. 'We are deeply saddened to hear reports that security officials in Pakistan have been killed in this attack. We will be seeking to talk to Sri Lankan and Pakistan cricket officials as soon as possible to pass on our condolences.'
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said: 'What is sad is that the Sri Lankans supported us and came to Pakistan and this is the price they have paid for their friendship with us.

Javed Miandad, another former captain, said: 'What is worse is that all the fears expressed by foreign teams about coming to Pakistan have been proved correct. Pakistan cricket will take a long time to recover.'

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