The terror attack on Sri Lanka 2009 (Source: @SirJadeja/x.com)
Since the birth of the game of cricket, the sport has given some of the best moments that fans will cherish forever. But like every great story, the game has its dark chapters too. Some events in cricket shocked the world, leaving fans and viewers alike remembering them, not for glory, but for all the wrong reasons.
In recent times, Pakistan’s strike cost three Afghan cricketers’ lives, and nothing could be more tragic. The tragedy sent shockwaves worldwide, casting a shadow over Pakistan cricket and plunging it to an unprecedented low in its history.
In 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team became the target of a brutal terror attack while traveling to the stadium for a Test match. The assault claimed six lives, leaving an indelible scar on the nation’s cricketing history. Let’s revisit the horrifying memory.
Terrorism strikes as a lasting blow to Pakistan cricket
While the world pushes toward a terror-free future, Pakistan continues to grapple with its own dark shadows. Accusations from terrorist groups have painted the nation as a hotspot of unrest, and this turmoil has spilled onto the cricket field. Sometimes the touring countries faced some horrifying activities.
Since 2002, several cricket teams have cut tours short or retreated home, facing bone-chilling experiences where survival became the ultimate challenge. Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Bangladesh abandoned some series, but the horrifying attack on Sri Lanka is the most haunting memory of cricket history.
Twelve gunmen open fire on the Sri Lanka Cricket team bus
Among all the horrifying activities on Pakistani soil, the horrifying incident of attacking the Sri Lankan team bus remained at the top. In 2009, Sri Lanka was traveling to Pakistan for a two-match Test series. After Pakistan won the first Test, the second match was scheduled to unfold at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
After Sri Lanka piled up a mammoth total while batting in the first innings, Pakistan was 110/1 at the end of the second day. As the team headed back to their hotel, they had no idea that the horrors awaiting them the next day would leave scars that last a lifetime.
On the third day, as Sri Lanka was traveling through the road, 12 gunmen were hiding near the Liberty Square. As the bus was crossing the exact point, the terrorists started firing. They first shot at the wheels of the team bus and then fired indiscriminately at the vehicle.
The terror escalated when a rocket was fired at the bus, narrowly missing its mark and striking an electric post instead, a chilling twist of luck in an otherwise deadly ambush. Even a grenade under the bus, but the Sri Lankan side got a lucky escape.
Sri Lankan stars face death as eight lives are lost in a gun battle
Battles within the 22 yards are enjoyable, but the moment it crosses the boundary becomes terrifying. In the deadly attack, Six Sri Lankan stars, including captain Mahela Jayawardene, sustained injury. Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana sustained serious injury and were hospitalized. Amid the team’s near-death ordeal, eight lives were tragically lost in the battle.
In the 25-minute-long battle, six policemen lost their lives while protecting the side. Along with that, two civilians were also tragically killed in this mishap. Where fans were ready to watch some red-ball thrills, the city was painted in red with the blood of the innocents.
As cricket always celebrates sportsmen's spirits beyond borders, the cowardly attack was criticized heavily in the world. With terrorist activities casting a long shadow over Pakistan, the incident further tarnished the nation’s reputation in the world of cricket, leaving a lasting mark on its global standing.
.jpg?type=mq "How can India qualify?")
