Politics

When cricket was ruled out LBW (Lahore Before Wicket) in Pakistan

The military victories in the Wanni and the divisions that plague the United National Party (UNP), the twin topics that keep the nation entertained complete with many political googlies, were overshadowed when a Mumbai style attack was carried out in the city of Lahore in Pakistan last Tuesday, leaving six Sri Lankan cricketers injured and eight Pakistan security personnel dead.

Following the attack, there are defence experts working together with South Asian intelligence services to ascertain whether the Lahore attack was part of a grand scheme to create a diplomatic crisis among South Asian nations, and specially to strain Sri Lanka's relations with Pakistan, a friendly nation that had shown consistent support specially with regard to the island's defence requirements.

The initial Pakistani reaction was to declare that the attack bore telltale signs of the Mumbai terror attack last November for which India vociferously blamed Pakistan based terrorists. This time around, similar noises emanated from Pakistan, specially from the state of Punjab that is currently politically unstable, hinting at the possibility of Indian backed terrorists launching the attack not only to discredit Pakistan but also to create friction between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, two nations that have enjoyed cordial relations throughout.

The United States was quick to respond to the unfolding scenario by stating it was an attack on positive relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Joining the US were Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Affairs Minister P. Chidambaram who unequivocally condemned the attack.

While Pakistan's intelligence services strive to identify the masterminds behind the attack and to find out whether there exists a possible Indian hand, the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) has gone on record that investigators were looking into the possibility of external links to the terror attack.

The investigators, prompted by the Pakistan defence establishment is now said to be turning their microscopic gaze on Lakshar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) for its alleged connections with the LTTE.

According to intelligence reports, the attackers have arrived in a white car. There had been some 12 terrorists heavily armed. 

Soon after the incident, Lahore authorities diffused two car bombs and arrested four suspects in connection with the incident that left eight policemen dead and injured six cricketers and a coach.

In this backdrop, it is the firm belief of Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge that the terrorists may have planned on hijacking the Sri Lankan cricket team bus and hostage taking. But Defence Spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is more critical. "The reports from Pakistan indicate the use of heavy arms and sophisticated communication equipment. They could have been in it for the long haul. While we are looking at the larger picture, let's not rule out the LTTE's desperate attempts and the fact that perhaps they could have used the cricketers to bargain with both countries for some breathing space," notes Rambukwella.

Among the key suspects the defense authorities are looking into includes militant organisations connected to al Qaeda and similar Jihadi movements.

As for the world of cricket, this series was doomed from the word go - the Sri Lankan cricketers having openly expressed their reservations about touring Pakistan when it was first proposed.

Pakistan was initially keen on hosting a triangular series but Australia backed out citing security concerns. When the triangular concept was ruled out, it was none other than Pakistan Prime minister Yousuf Gilani who requested President Mahinda Rajapakse to show support and to facilitate a tour of Pakistan. It was largely in furtherance of diplomatic ties that the Sri Lankan team finally reached Islamabad.

But in this face saving exercise for Pakistan, it now appears that the unsuspecting Sri Lankan cricketers ended up being guinea pigs.

It is now learnt that two days prior to the incident, an unidentified group had been spotted in the hotel's vicinity, threatening passersby of violent eruptions. Hearing this, the cricketers have reportedly voiced their concerns about the prudence of staying on in Lahore, running high risks.

Some openly expressed their desire to return to Colombo but the Pakistani authorities managed to coax the Sri Lankan cricket administrators with assurances of the highest possible security being afforded to the players throughout their stay.

The Sri Lankan cricket team stayed at the Royal Intercontinental Hotel in Lahore, located some 500 meters away from the famous Gadaffi Stadium.

Lahore, the main city in the state of Punjab has been experiencing simmering discontent in the recent past. The Punjab provincial administration was recently dissolved and Sabash Sharif, brother of former Pakistani premier Navaz Sharrif was soon replaced by a governor under the fiat of President Asif Ali Zardari.

The decision had caused significant political turmoil. While the Sharif family is naturally smarting and looking for room to strike back came the terrorist attack that was now being turned into a Zardari bashing event with opposition parties accusing the President of making Lahore vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

It was in this backdrop that the Sri Lankan cricketers toured the beleaguered city. On March 3 morning, the players had finished their breakfast and were ready to face the third day of the second test match. Then they boarded the luxury bus to convey them to the venue. The driver, Mohamed Khalil is an ardent cricket fan and counts among his credentials some 20 years of driving Sri Lankan cricketers when touring Lahore.

A pilot vehicle with security personnel preceded the bus which was followed by a van transporting the umpires.

Suddenly, a group of terrorists sprang out and peppered the bus. Khalil, a clever driver, despite shattered glass and screams from within the bus concentrated on covering the short distance to the stadium.

First to recover from their shock were Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan who shouted instructions at the driver to drive straight into the stadium come what may and for everyone to lie down. Perhaps it was the quick-witted driver's skill that saved the team members as he kept his head on the steering wheel and drove at lightning speed.

While several cricketers suffered minor injuries, the worst affected was Thilan Samaraweera who had his shoulder pierced by shrapnel.

It was Muralitharan who alerted Colombo. He called his brother and informed that the team was under terrorist attack and to inform the authorities,  who in turn telephoned Duleep Mendis that the players were in grave danger.

Mendis fired a swift telephone call to Manager Brendon Kuruppu only to hear him shout, "lie down, lie down" and the connection went dead. Meanwhile, the Pakistan authorities quickly moved to assist the injured players and remove the dead bodies of the security personnel.

Within minutes of the attack, the Sri Lankan mission in Islamabad was informed of the tragic turn of events. Last Tuesday was an important day for the Sri Lankan mission where a simple ceremony was underway to receive the new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jayalath Weerakkody.

Weerakkody had just presented his credentials to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari when the mission learned with dismay that the touring team had been attacked. The new mission head's first assignment turned out to be one etched with tragedy and terror. Weerakkody, a former airforce commander promptly requested the Pakistan Air Force to release a helicopter for him to reach Lahore to check on the situation personally and to do all possible to ensure that the cricketers had medical assistance and were safely airlifted together with their families.

Before taking the 45-minute flight, he also telephoned President Mahinda Rajapakse who had just reached Kathmandu himself. The President was shocked to learn that the national team had been the target of a terrorist attack.

The Sri Lankan President was holding discussions with Nepalese politicians when Weerakkody's call came through.  Soon afterwards, the head of state was inundated with telephone calls from Colombo, chief among them were Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge and Duleep Mendis.

Rajapakse who was holding a discussion with Minister Pushpakamal Dahal promptly instructed Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who was also with him to rush to Lahore and to make all facilities available to evacuate the players safely.

Under the President's instructions, a special SriLankan Airlines flight flew on March 3 around 4.30 pm to Lahore, complete with special reclining seats and specially fitted beds.

An embarrassed Pakistan was soon making moves to make amends and to offer profuse apologies to the Sri Lankan government for the unfortunate incident. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani immediately made contact with President Mahinda Rajapakse and spoke for over 15 minutes.

Meanwhile Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned President Mahinda Rajapakse twice to personally express his regret over the attack and a profusely apologetic Pakistani President laboured the point that the unfortunate incident should not be allowed to mar the good relations between the two countries.

In the meantime, Colombo too was galvanised by the shocking news and parliament that was in session had the matter being raised by opposition legislators. While the opposition tried to blame the government for compromising the cricket team's security and the government in return blamed the UNP for playing politics with an issue of this magnitude, needless to say the turn of events had turned out to be a tragedy for Sri Lanka and a political embarrassment for Pakistan.

Besides, there is trading of charges between Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge and onetime Interim Chairman of the Cricket Board and MP, Arjuna Ranatunge on the merits and demerits of the devastating tour of Pakistan.

Ranatunge has lashed out stating that the team agreed to tour after being promised security accorded to a head of state, openly laying blame at Lokuge's feet and the present cricket administrators,' alleging that the cricketers' personal safety was compromised. For his part, Minister Lokuge claimed that he was never made to understand that the situation was this bad and that Ranatunge is only bent on fault-finding.

Meanwhile, President Rajapakse telephoned the cricketers who were recovering from the shock of their tryst with fate in the form of an ambush in Lahore. While speaking to the injured, he did not forget to impress upon the fact that some European nations fanning the flames of terrorism were maintaining silence even after the national cricket team came under attack which only proved that their sympathies lay elsewhere.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the cricketers at Nawaloka Hospital to make inquiries after their health.

Meanwhile the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered Pakistan its co-operation to investigate the Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Director FBI, Robert Mueller pledged support to Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani and Advisor to the Prime Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday that the FBI would like to play a role in helping crack the case.