14 Friday 6th March, 2009 Letter Are our cricketers children of a lesser God ? he horrific attack on our would want to risk the lives of return and it would be interest- cricketers last Tuesday their citizens and sportsmen ing to find out on what basis he Tin Lahore by a murder- except petty individuals with made these statements because ous group of terrorists struck vested interests and personal as far as we are aware, he is all of us like a bolt from the agendas eager to score a few not a security expert unless he blue and left us reeling in brownie points with their has added that aspect to his shock and dismay . That they Pakistani counterparts with no already bulky portfolio in the were able to emerge from the concern for the welfare of the recent past . ordeal with their lives intact players . It would indeed be apt if he was due mainly to the quick It is now an open secret that accepted responsibility for his thinking of their bus driver the players themselves were actions for once without taking and the seven members of the forced to make this tour cheap potshots at his rivals police who laid down despite severe misgivings and through media and embarrass- their lives in line of duty . were made virtual sacrificial ing himself. The question that is asked lambs just to appease the pow- Finally all we can do is hope by everyone is, who is responsi- ers that be. and pray that our beloved ble for putting the lives of one The security provided to the friends and brothers in the of our most prized assets in team from accounts surfacing team recover from these physi- such danger in spite of the in the media , most notably cal injuries and horrific men- volatile security scenario in from the respected former tal scars and are able to contin- Pakistan . Pakistan captain Imran Khan ue to represent our country in We are aware that Australia and the Match Referee Chris the game we all love , notwith- and India have cancelled recent Broad , was nowhere near what standing the callous attitude of tours to this strife torn land it should have been and the the sports ministry hierarchy and the International worthy Sports Minister and the towards their wellbeing which Council took away the hosting Government is answerable for has left them and us wondering rights of the Champions this huge lapse . whether they are the children Trophy from them last year We are aware that the of a lesser God in comparison due to the deteriorating securi- Minister took it upon himself to their counterparts from ty situation. to make a personal visit to India and Australia . In the face of these develop- Pakistan before the series and Hashan Tillakaratne Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis smiles as he waits inside an ambulance upon his team’s arrival in Colombo after the ments , no right thinking gov- made grand proclamations Former Cricket terrorist attack in Lahore. (AP) ernment or cricket board regarding the security on his captain

by Rizwan Ali would be very sad - especially for the Ronnie and ‘Wild Flowers’ Don’t let cricket die, says Pak. captain youngsters,” Khan said. to rock OTSC tent at ‘Battle LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - “When I was a boy, I loved watching Pakistan captain has Imran Khan, and urged world cricket authorities to help the ICC and the bosses to say there will beings,” Khan said. “If the sport is not Wasim Akram playing against great of the Blues’ keep international cricket alive in his be no cricket in Pakistan, but the future there, the children can do silly things. teams from overseas. It is because of The popular three piece outfit ‘Wild country despite this week’s terror will not be good if cricket is taken away “Nobody wants to see children going them - seeing them play - that I also Flowers’, led by Batison will perform live attack on the Sri Lanka team. from my country. down a bad path and finding them- played the game. together once again at the OTSC tent The attack on Tuesday, which killed “It is up to the ICC and the bosses selves involved with bombs and things “But what if no one comes to with Ronnie Lietch, during the ‘Battle of six policemen and a civilian and from around the world to make sure like that.” Pakistan? How will the youngsters the Blues’ Royal-Thomian cricket match injured seven members of the Sri that cricket is not lost in Pakistan The chair- know about the game? What will they at the SCC Grounds. Lanka touring party, had imperiled the because of a couple of mad people. It is man Ijaz Butt said Wednesday that the do?” ‘Wild Flowers’ will perform on all future of the sport in Pakistan, with not the sportsmen’s fault.” future of international cricket return- With home internationals unlikely three days from March 12 to 14, while international cricket unlikely in the Prior to Sri Lanka’s visit, Pakistan ing to Pakistan looked bleak if the secu- for some time, Khan said Pakistan play- Ronnie will perform March 13 and 14. near term. had long been a no-go zone for foreign rity situation did not improve. ers will pursue their careers in lucra- A Rock Band and a ‘Papare’ Band will “I appeal for all the bosses and the cricket teams, with Australia, India and However, Khan said it was impor- tive Twenty20 leagues in India - ICL and also perform during the break. ICC (International Cricket Council) to the West Indies refusing visits, and the tant young Pakistanis be inspired by IPL - and England’s domestic game. Meanwhile, a club official informed not let cricket die here,” Khan told Champions Trophy called off on securi- seeing international cricket. “If something is not done quickly, ‘the Island’ that all tickets have already cricinfo.com website Thursday. ty grounds. “Maybe in the future we will be maybe everyone goes to the IPL, ICL or been sold out. So, it’s likely to be disap- “It would be very easy right now for “Sport helps to make good human alone (as a cricketing nation) and that county cricket,” Khan said. pointment for some.

Davis Cup 2009 Trials Hemakumara scores double Two suspects accused Rajapakse century to reach 1000 runs of Liberty ambush held confirms by Reemus Fernando Hemakumara hit 11 sixes 50 runs. His massive tally LAHORE: Crime rently he is an employee of a and 23 fours in his innings, a also includes a century and Investigation Agency claimed flourmill. Except for the cell- Chathura Hemakumara school official said yester- six half-centuries. capturing as many as five sus- phone, nothing has been recov- his place reached 1000 runs for the day. A useful off-spinner pects including two persons, ered from them, the sources said. season clobbering a double The right-hander has Hemakumara has bagged 65 accused of having involvement They said despite detaining by Revata S. Silva century to guide Moratu reached the milestone in so far. in Sri Lankan team assault, from and questioning over four-dozen Vidyalaya to a nine only 14 matches. Incidentally, Moratu Lahore and other cities of people, The Lahore police are yet Rajeeve Rajapakse confirmed his victory over St. Servatius’ The 18-year-old has now Vidyalaya has scored 12 out- Punjab, Geo News reported on to make any headway in the place in this year’s team when he College, Matara in their 1005 runs to his credit and right victories this season in Wednesday. probe into the Liberty attack. beat Sankha Atukorale in straight match which ended at has scored that in 22 innings 14 outings while conceding a The investigation staff of the They said the sketches of the sets 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday in the Davis Moratuwa on Wednesday. to a healthy average of over solitary defeat. Punjab Police arrested them attackers have been made in the Cup trials at SLTA. amid a raid on a building in the light of the eyewitnesses’ Meanwhile, Guyanga Weerasekera Saddar area, sources said. accounts, including rickshaw too showed her prowess beating The sources said the person- and car drivers. Amresh Jayawickrema 7-6, 6-4. nel of the Joint Interrogation Three cars and a rickshaw Results - Butt urges cricket world to Team of the Punjab Police used by the terrorists during the March 2: arrived in on ambush have also been impound- R. Rajapakse bt A. Jayawickrema 6-0, 6-0, hold its horses Wednesday morning, as they had ed. The case has been registered S. Atukorale bt M. Siyaguna 6-3, 7-5 information regarding the pres- against 14 to 15 unidentified March 3: ISLAMABAD: Pakistan sions and wait for a year at the Sri Lanka Board and ence of suspects involved in the armed men. Explosives, suicide R. Rajapakse bt G. Weerasekera 6-3, 6-1, Cricket Board (PCB) chair- least to judge Pakistan’s Government of Sri Lanka Lahore attack. jackets, bullets asnd hand- A. Jayawickrema bt M. Siyaguna 6-1, 6-3 man Ijaz Butt has called credentials as a host of thanking them on their The team left for Lahore later grenades, seized from separate upon the world cricket international matches.” decision to make the March 4: in the day. Salman Aslam adds places, have been mentioned in community including the He said the PCB would Pakistan tour and showing S. Atukorale bt A. Jayawickrema 6-4, 6-3 International Cricket do all it could to save the exceptional qualities of from Lahore, “The recovery of a the FIR. March 5: Council (ICC) not to rush future of international staying cool after the ter- cellphone SIM from a bag, aban- According to sources, sus- G. Weerasekera bt A. Jayawickrema 7-6, up things and wait for at cricket in Pakistan. “What rorists attack,” he said. doned by the terrorists and pects had been residing in 6-4 least a year to judge the happened on Tuesday came Meanwhile, he con- seized by the police from the Lahore for some days and were R. Rajapakse bt S. Atukorale 6-3, 62 situation in the country in as shock to the PCB and firmed that to consider the crime scene, has led to the arrest being assisted from various Schedule – special context with the the whole nation. We implications of Tuesday’s of its owner and his alleged cities of the province including World Cup 2011. would do all we can to save attack on the Sri Lanka March 6 (Fri): Butt told ‘The News’ on the future by making the team, the PCB Governing accomplice from Kot Samaba, a Lahore. G. Weerasekera vs M. Siyaguna Wednesday he had taken international cricketing Board has been convened town in Rahim Yar Khan, accord- Investigation team narrowed March 7 (Sat): up the mater with the con- community realise on Friday. ing to the police sources.” search operations monitoring G. Weerasekera vs S. Atukorale, cerned people in the ICC Pakistan’s eagerness to “I have convened the The police have also taken selective suspected places follow- R. Rajapakse vs M. Siyaguna. and would also request the host international cricket- Governing Board meeting into custody 24 other suspects, ing the information they sought international cricket com- ing events.” on March 6 to consider the stated to be members of various from various secrets sources and munity not to rush up Ijaz Butt was all praise situation and take up the banned outfits, from different launched several raids. As a things in deciding the fate for the Sri Lanka team measures to streamline of Pakistan as internation- members saying that even affairs to save the game’s parts of the city. The sources result, five suspects were nabbed SL beat Nepal al cricket hosts. after the tragic incident, future in the country. said the suspected terrorists — on Wednesday, sources added. “It would be too unjust their morale was sky high. “All the Governing Babar Shahzad and teenager Also, sources confirmed to doubt Pakistan’s ability He said that PCB would Board members would be Dilawar Hussain — have been involvement of Indian spy Blue XI 3-2 to host the 2011 World Cup be sending a letter of requested to give their shifted to Lahore under tight agency RAW in Lahore attacks in the wake of terrorists thanks to the Sri Lanka point of view and opinion security. as per preliminary investigation. Sri Lanka beat Nepal Blue XI by three attack on the Sri Lankan Board and the Government as to how the PCB should The main suspect is in his It is likely that agencies will team. I have taken up the for their cooperation and move from here on.” goals to two in the Priminister’s Cup matter with the ICC and the help they extended to Butt said that future early 20s and he had been work- make available investigative Invitational Soccer Tournament match would also request the Pakistan. strategy would be adopted ing as a guard at a cellphone report on Lahore attack within played at Dashrath Stadium Kathmandu, international community “A letter of thanks will after consulting the Board company tower in Lahore until a 18 hours, sources predicted. Nepal, yesterday. not to make hasty deci- separately be dispatched to members. few months ago. However, cur- (The News)