Monday, March 2, 2009

Sri Lanka cricketers wounded in shooting


Gunmen in Pakistan opened fire on a vehicle carrying members of Sri Lanka's national cricket team, killing five police officers and wounding at least eight team members, officials say.
Tuesday's attack in Lahore came at a time of unrest in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, both battling insurgencies but it was unclear who was behind the carefully coordinated assault.
City police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said five policemen died in the shooting.
The attack was likely the work of "well-trained terrorists", he said.
Eight members of the Sri Lankan team were injured near Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan Cricket Board security official Nadeem Iqbal said.
Sri Lankan team manager Brendon Kruppu confirmed the incident and said batsman Kumar Sangakkara, was among the injured.
Sri Lankan Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge named two injured players as Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera and said they were taken to hospital in Lahore after the shooting.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardena was slightly wounded in the foot, his father told a local television station after speaking with him by telephone.
The team bus came under fire as the players headed to the Gaddafi stadium for the third day of the second Test against Pakistan.
"We are assessing the situation," Pakistan cricket board chief Ejaz Butt said.
Security concerns have plagued Pakistan for years and some foreign sports teams including from Australia have refused to play in the troubled nation.
Sri Lanka agreed to tour - allowing Pakistan to host its first test cricket matches in 14 months - after India and Australia postponed scheduled tours.

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