We're lucky to be alive, say Sri Lanka cricketers

Looking exhausted, the players embraced their wives and children as they returned to Colombo.

The cricketers, seven of whom were injured in yesterday's attack which left eight dead, received a warm welcome from relatives, friends and the country's sports minister Gamini Lokuge as they touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport.

Reunited with his wife Christina Sirisena, captain Mahela Jayawardene, who received shrapnel wounds to the foot, said: "I'm very happy that I could see my family, and come back to Sri Lanka in one piece. We are still shocked by what has happened but we are relieved that no one in the team suffered more serious injuries or were killed."

Players Thilan Thushara and Thilakarathna Dilshan were among those who raced to pick up their children.

Five of the injured players and their British coach Paul Farbrace were driven straight to Nawaloka hospital in central Colombo for checks on their injuries. The most seriously injured player was Thilan Samaraweera, who was shot in the leg. He was taken away by ambulance.

Tharanga Paranavitana, who was on his first international tour, was also taken to hospital after being shot in the chest. The bullet, which narrowly missed his heart, was later removed by doctors in Pakistan. "I am fine now," Paranavitana said. "I feel very lucky."

Three other cricketers received shrapnel wounds. Vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara had cuts to the shoulder, Ajantha Mendis received head injuries and Suranga Lakmal had cuts on the leg.

Up to 14 gunmen attacked the team's bus in Lahore with rifles, grenades and rockets yesterday morning.

They were on their way to Gaddafi stadium for the third day of the second Test against Pakistan when they were shot at. Six policemen and two civilians died in the attack. The players were airlifted out of the stadium to Lahore airport and returned to Sri Lanka on a chartered flight from Abu Dhabi.

"We were lucky to get away safe and sound from this terrible incident," said Sangakkara. "We are very happy to be back home and I guess we will spend the next few weeks coming to terms with what has happened."

Pakistan today published photos of two of the militants and offered a reward for help tracking them down.

Lahore police chief Haji Habibur Rehman told a TV news channel that authorities had detained some suspects. He gave few details but indicated that none of them were the gunmen.

Working in pairs, the attackers carried walkie-talkies and backpacks stuffed with water, dried fruit and other high-energy food, a sign they anticipated a protracted siege and may have been planning to take the players hostage, an official said.

None of the gunmen were killed and all apparently escaped into the teeming city.