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Cork condemns attack on Sri Lankan cricket team
3 Mar 2009Former England cricketer Dominic Cork today said he would never return to Pakistan after being caught up in the bloody attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.
Masked gunmen armed with rifles and rocket launchers attacked the team bus near Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, wounding at least two players and killing five police officers.
Cork, who was working as a commentator for Pakistan TV, made it to the stadium afterwards and managed to speak to wounded Sri Lankan players and officials.
He told Sky News: "The Sri Lankan players are quite shocked. They all fell to the floor of the team bus when the attack happened.
"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."
He added: "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."
Cork, who played 37 tests for England and enjoyed spells with Derbyshire and Hampshire, also revealed that English umpire Chris Broad, father of England bowler Stuart Broad, was spattered with blood after the attack on the bus.
Broad was in a vehicle following the Sri Lankan team bus, he said. The driver was hit by gunfire and the officials were driven to the stadium by a policeman, Cork added.
After the attack, the authorities immediately cancelled the test match and the Lahore governor said the team was flying home.
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa also condemned what happened.
Security concerns have plagued Pakistan for years and some foreign sports teams have refused to play there.
The attack is likely to mean the end of international cricket in Pakistan for months, if not years. Even before, most teams refused to tour the country because of security concerns.
It will also have implications on the game's future in South Asia, its most lucrative market.
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat, responding to the terror attack, said: "We note with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation.
"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.
"I have confirmed with both member boards that the remainder of the tour has been cancelled and we are working hard to get our match officials out of the area as safely and as quickly as possible.
"I know, also, that the Pakistan Cricket Board is working with Sri Lanka Cricket to make sure the players are flown home at the earliest opportunity."
An ICC statement read: "Until the full facts of the incident are established and the players and match officials have returned home safely, the ICC will make no further comment."
