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Pakistan marks one year since Sri Lanka attacks

Lankan Ranger

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Pakistan marks one year since Sri Lanka attacks

Pakistan on Wednesday marked the first anniversary of a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, striving to revive the game in the cricket-mad nation and forge a path out of isolation.

Seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach were injured and eight Pakistanis killed when attackers on foot opened fire and hurled grenades at the cricketers' bus en route to the Gaddafi Stadium in the eastern city of Lahore.
The militants escaped, the second Test was abandoned and the Sri Lankan team flown home as condemnation poured in and the Al-Qaeda-linked menace in Pakistan was again flung under the spotlight.

Lahore police chief Pervez Rathor told private TV channel Express that, one year later, two presumed attackers had been charged, one killed in a shootout and five were on the run.

Pakistan blamed the assault on the Taliban and the attack ended any hopes of hosting international matches in the immediate future.

Pakistan had already been a virtual no-go zone for foreign teams since the September 11, 2001 attacks, which put the nuclear-armed country on the frontline of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and the war against Al-Qaeda.

The Sri Lankan team were in Pakistan as a replacement for India, which cancelled a tour after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, blamed on Pakistani militants.

On Wednesday, police and the law minister of Punjab province, Rana Sanaullah, laid wreaths at the scene of the attack in Liberty Square, saluting six police and two civilians who were killed and watched by tearful relatives.


"We are here to remember the sacrifices given by our brave policemen. The whole nation is proud of them," said Sanaullah.
"Terrorists want to destroy peace in Pakistan," he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and players also marked the sombre anniversary. Board officials joined by cricket fans laid floral tributes to the victims at the scene of attack and observed a minute's silence.

"We pause to remember the victims, to grieve with the families and friends of those who died, and to honour the heroes of that day who sacrificed their lives to save others," PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said in a statement.

"Even though a year has passed, it has not erased the shock, horror and pain that we all felt on that day."

PCB chief operating officer Waseem Bari said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had formed a special task force to help Pakistan revive its reputation in the face of Islamist attacks.

"Cricket is the lifeline of Pakistan and we want to expand it," he said.

A month after the March 3, 2009 attacks, the ICC stripped Pakistan of the 14 matches it had been scheduled to host for the 2011 World Cup.

Butt has said Pakistan lost at least 40 million dollars over India's tour cancellation and feared an annual 70-million-dollar loss in television rights if teams continued to refuse tours.

"We hope that as ground realities change, things will improve and international cricket will be revived in Pakistan," Bari told AFP.

More than 1,130 people have died in suicide and bomb attacks across Pakistan since the Sri Lankan assault, bringing to more than 3,000 the number to have died in an Al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked campaign since July 2007.

"Pakistan is suffering its impact not only in cricket but also in other sports as we have not been able to host any international sporting event," said former captain Ramiz Raja, a commentator during the ill-fated Sri Lanka Test.

Over the last year, Pakistan have been forced to play their home series in United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Despite the troubles at home, Pakistan have achieved some success on the field, with a stunning victory in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament at Lord's last year.

However, in January they suffered humiliating defeats on their tour of Australia, losing the one-day series 5-0 and the Test series 3-0 and prompting the PCB to order an investigation into the whitewash.

They are due to play Australia in two Twenty20 matches and two Tests -- originally scheduled to take place in Pakistan -- in England later this year.

Pakistan marks one year since Sri Lanka attacks - LANKA BUSINESS ONLINE
 
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When India decided not to tour Pakistan, Mr.Arjuna Rantunga was all over the media (with his hatred and bias against India) that SL team will visit Pakistan instead.

BCCI asked politely SL Cricket authorities on not visiting Pakistan. BCCI even arranged T20 and ODI series in Lanka.

But there is no cure for certain prejudice and bias.

I wonder God forbid if any Lankan player would have died would Arjuna taken the responsibility of the player's death?

GB
 
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When India decided not to tour Pakistan, Mr.Arjuna Rantunga was all over the media (with his hatred and bias against India) that SL team will visit Pakistan instead.

BCCI asked politely SL Cricket authorities on not visiting Pakistan. BCCI even arranged T20 and ODI series in Lanka.

But there is no cure for certain prejudice and bias.

I wonder God forbid if any Lankan player would have died would Arjuna taken the responsibility of the player's death?

GB



Well politely is not the word that i would use with the indians telling the lankans if you didn't know BCCI has a big share in SLCB. What happened was unfortunate, but not intentional and can you rather then acting on your indian bias acknowledge the fact that so many police officers literally sacrificed their lives to save every one including the good for nothing broad.
 
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sorry Sri Lankan brothers............................ our government sucks............. they could not provide foolproof security to our guests :angry::angry:
 
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When India decided not to tour Pakistan, Mr.Arjuna Rantunga was all over the media (with his hatred and bias against India) that SL team will visit Pakistan instead.

BCCI asked politely SL Cricket authorities on not visiting Pakistan. BCCI even arranged T20 and ODI series in Lanka.

But there is no cure for certain prejudice and bias.



GB

garibnawaz


I think every South Asian country country should ask India's
permission even before coughing.

and you are right, there is no cure for certain prejudice and bias.


I wonder God forbid if any Lankan player would have died would Arjuna taken the responsibility of the player's death?

That we made sure not to happen by laying down our lives. Arjuna was right, and he had trust in us, I don't think he had lost that rather more strengthened it.



:pakistan:


Adios
 
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Well politely is not the word that i would use with the indians telling the lankans

We didnot threat anybody nor pressurized anyone.
if you didn't know BCCI has a big share in SLCB.

I know. BCCI was infact about to buy SLCB.

That does not changes the fact that Ranatunga holds a personal bias against BCCI and has acted many times accordingly.

BCCI had once put all the series with Lanka on hold courtesy of Mr.Ranatunga.

All future series against Lanka on hold: BCCI

Karachi: Miffed at the "hostile" statements from Sri Lanka Cricket officials against Indian Premier League, the BCCI has decided to put on hold India's all future bilateral series against Sri Lanka.

According to confidential documents relating to a recent meeting between officials of the two boards, the Indians have made it clear that until the SLC changes its present hostile attitude towards BCCI, all tours by the Indian team in the FTP till 2012 stand unconfirmed.

Documents show that IPL Chairman Lalit Modi and other BCCI officials were extremely unhappy with some of the statements made by the Sri Lankan board officials particularly president Arjuna Ranatunga about the BCCI and Indian Premier League.

No wonder Ranatunga was sacked from SLCB.

GB
 
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That we made sure not to happen by laying down our lives. Arjuna was right, and he had trust in us, I don't think he had lost that rather more strengthened it.

:pakistan:


Adios

Arjuna Rantunga is History.

If the trust is strendthened why the Lankan's didn't continued the tour
? or visit again?

It has been one year now. They should visit Pakistan again for the sake of strengthened trust.
I think every South Asian country country should ask India's
permission even before coughing.

As far as cricket is concerned YES.

SLCB is surving courtesy of BCCI's financial backing.
10 years since Bangladesh got test status and yet to play a match in India, courtesy BCCI allowing all matches/ series in Bangladesh to help out Bangladesh Cricket financially.
IPL helps all BD,Lankan and Pakistani (in 2008) players make big money.

Untill one comes up with an alternate the answer is YES. I agree.

GB
 
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Arjuna Rantunga is History.

I

It has been one year now. They should visit Pakistan again for the sake of strengthened trust.

GB

Well if he is history then why did you raise voice over his hatred and bias against India in the first place.

f the trust is strendthened why the Lankan's didn't continued the tour
? or visit again?

Of-course I don't know PCB,SLCB or ICC plans and schedules, but the will visit again very soon, nothing will keep them away from visiting, rest assured.


garibnawaz said:
BCCI asked politely SL Cricket authorities on not visiting Pakistan. BCCI even arranged T20 and ODI series in Lanka.

tell me some thing how in the world can some one morally and ethnically do this?? Sirilanka is an independent and sovereign country they know whats good and bad for them. Its an insult to them and their sovereignty only if you consider sovereign.

How would it feel if Pakistan asks Sirilanka or Bangladesh or any other friendly country not visit India and arrange something similar tournament in their respective countries.
:tdown::tdown:




:pakistan:

Adios
 
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When India decided not to tour Pakistan, Mr.Arjuna Rantunga was all over the media (with his hatred and bias against India) that SL team will visit Pakistan instead.

BCCI asked politely SL Cricket authorities on not visiting Pakistan. BCCI even arranged T20 and ODI series in Lanka.

But there is no cure for certain prejudice and bias.

I wonder God forbid if any Lankan player would have died would Arjuna taken the responsibility of the player's death?

GB
Yeah so India went ahead and orchestrated the attack to prove its point.
 
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Well if he is history then why did you raise voice over his hatred and bias against India in the first place.

Coz he was the only one in SLCB who wanted the SL team to visit Pakistan.

He was the only one who refused a request from BCCI.

The result was in front of everyone a year ago.

Of-course I don't know PCB,SLCB or ICC plans and schedules, but the will visit again very soon, nothing will keep them away from visiting, rest assured.

tell me some thing how in the world can some one morally and ethnically do this?? Sirilanka is an independent and sovereign country they know whats good and bad for them. Its an insult to them and their sovereignty only if you consider sovereign.

We requested them.

We requested them not to play with a country whom we think responsbile for 26/11.

There is nothing unethical in making request. They didnot listen and continued the tour.

Chapter Closed.
How would it feel if Pakistan asks Sirilanka or Bangladesh or any other friendly country not visit India and arrange something similar tournament in their respective countries.
:tdown::tdown:

Nothing.

Considering the BCCI's money power neither Sri Lanka not Bangladesh would listen to PCB.

No Pakistani's in IPL. I didnt heard Bangladeshi's or Lankan's pulling back from the tournament.

GB
 
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Yeah so India went ahead and orchestrated the attack to prove its point.

Even Pakistani authorities never claimed it.

No proofs were found of Indian involvement.

My concerns with this regard are still unanswered.

1) Pakistan Police responsible for the security changed the route of Lankan team after a last minute phone call.

Who made this call? Did the police verify the call? Why they changed the route?

2) As per CCTV footage the terrorists went passed right in front of the Police who came in as backup. Why the police didn't shoot them or acted against them?

GB
 
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Even Pakistani authorities never claimed it.

No proofs were found of Indian involvement.

My concerns with this regard are still unanswered.

1) Pakistan Police responsible for the security changed the route of Lankan team after a last minute phone call.

Who made this call? Did the police verify the call? Why they changed the route?

where are you getting this information from :angry: i am hearing it first time ever in my life........ and i can bet you do not even know where the "Liberty Chowk" is..............

Google the map....... you might consider taking your words back...............

they can't change the route....... liberty chowk is just outside Gaddafi Stadium....... only 2-3 minutes drive from there

if they had not come from this router....... from where else can they enter the Stadium :angry::angry::angry:
 
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mmmmm The learned and alert Indians did not smell the Mumbai attack and they were so smart that they were 100% sure of attack on SL team in Lahore that they had warned Sri Lankans in advance much before their visit.

Smart ehhh. The Indians should be awarded Gold medals
 
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