Nothing could be as coward as attack on sportspersons. But this also happened in Pakistan, a country grappling with terrorism, and whose very existence seems in danger by the Frankenstein monster it has created.
Close on the heels of recently signed peace deals with Taliban in Swat, here comes the commando style brazen terror attack in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province and the second-largest city of Pakistan. The heinous attack speaks volume about growing security concerns in Pakistan when 12 heavily armed masked gunmen, with AK-47s, rockets and grenades, attacked a convoy escorted by police transporting Sri Lankan cricketers to the stadium for the Second Test Match against Pakistan being played at the Gaddafi stadium is a chilling memories of the 1972 Munich Olympic attacks in which terrorists gunned down 11 Israeli athletes. It also, according to the provincial governor of Punjab, the attack bore some similarity, in operational, method to that of 10 well-armed gunmen, also with backpacks, who rampaged through Mumbai in India last November, killing 180 people.
In Lahore attack, at least 8 policemen died and six of the cricketers (including a coach) were injured in a 25-minute battle in which militants fought the police. According to eyewitnesses, three or four men started firing at the bus shortly after they hurled grenade attack. Among the mildly injured cricketers include Captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tharanga Paranavithana and Ajantha Mendis, and assistant coach Paul Farbrace while Thilan Samaraweera has bullet injury.
Ironically, the terrorists then all fled, and not a single one either killed or arrested. Not only the Sri Lankan cricketers have called off their tour, but also it puts a big question mark over any international cricket match in Pakistan in near future. There is also buzz about IPL being postponed due to security concerns since general elections are coinciding with IPL matches. Even some of the columnists have strongly argued for postponing the IPL.
Pakistan’s tryst with cricket, in recent years, has been setbacks, as team after team refusing to play there. In April 2002, the visiting New Zealand cricket team was caught in the cross-fire as a suicide blast targeted a group of French engineers staying at a nearby hotel. Though no players were injured, the incident cast a pall over Pakistan's international sporting commitments. On March 11, 2008 Cricket Australia's CEO announced the cancellation of Australian cricket tour of Pakistan, due to security concerns, and the attack on Sri Lankan only reinforces it decision. We should remember that Australia has not toured Pakistan since 1998. In November of 2008, the West Indies cricket team also refused to tour Pakistan, preferring instead to play the country in a neutral venue; hence, the three-game series took place in Dubai. Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the ICC cancelled the 2009 Champion's Trophy, which was to be hosted by Pakistan. With Lahore attack on cricketers, Pakistan’s isolation is complete.
Unlike everyone, terrorists do not like cricket. But this is the most coward act that militants could do. The decision of Team India not visit Pakistan last January was absolutely justified. Following a series of brutal terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26-27, 2008 Pak-Indo cricketing ties suffered a grievous blow. But why did the terrorists target Sri Lankan cricketers? Perhaps the commando style attack in Lahore seems a sequel to Mumbai attacks aimed towards gaining international limelight.
Given the recurring nature of random violence in Pakistan and fears of international teams to visit the country despite Islamabad's security assurances, the Sri Lankan decision to tour Pakistan was seen as a balancing act of its "cricket diplomacy", trying to please both India and Pakistan. But it was a decision based on short sightedness.
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