Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Valley Sports fraternity aghast over attack







Abid Khan



Srinagar, Mar 3: Like whole sports world, valleys sports fraternity is also shocked over the brutal attack on Srilankan team convoy near Liberty market on their way to Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in which at least five cricketers of team including captain Mahela Jayawardene and his deputy Kumar Sangakara sustained injuries. The attack also left six security men and two civilians’ dead.
The attack which is first of its kind in whole cricketing world has been received with great shock by the sports fraternity and hard die fans of cricket in valley. There have been terror strikes on the peripheries of cricket, but this is the first time players have been directly targeted and the fans are not able to believe such thing can happen to cricketers who entertain us. The Sri Lankans were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium when their bus was attacked by five armed terrorists near Liberty market.
JK Ranji teams spearhead pacer, Samiullah Beig termed incident as really unfortunate and said that it will huge loss for Pakistan cricket.
He said, “It is really unfortunate and I have no words to condemn it. It was after huge gap that a single cricket team in whole world came to play cricket in Pakistan and even they were not speared. This incident has left whole cricketing fraternity of valley in trauma as we all love Pakistan cricket.”
“I doubt whether we will be able to see Pakistan cricket stars playing again for next one year or not. If we will see them in action that would be definitely out of Pakistan and now UAE and other neutral venues are their home turfs” he said.
He said since getting news of attack in the morning, he and other of his cricket colleagues are watching news on television and with every breaking news their heart only gets sad.
“Since morning bad news is pouring in one after another. First it was attack then injuries and now the cancellation of match. The latest is that hosting of world cup 2011 will also be snatched from Pakistan and not to think of champion’s trophy.
Former fast bowler of JK ranji team, Abdul Qayoom Bagaw blamed security lapse for the attack.
“It is because of the security lapse, attackers came and got away. Players are the ambassadors of the country and they should have been given highest level of security. Whatever has happened should not have happened. There are no words to condemn this kind of act,” he said.
Joint secretary o J&K Cricket Association which governess cricket in J&K state said that the situation in Pakistan has been tense from last many years but cricketers were never attacked. “This is first time ever and I think it shouldn’t had happened.”
Former all rounder of JK Ranji team and joint secretary of J&K State Sports Council, Abdur Rouf said, “I am “Shocked and dismayed” by the attack on the Sri Lanka team in Pakistan.” It is the worst possible news for cricket and all cricket-loving nations”. “Our sympathies are with all the victims of this terrible attack as the cricket world comes to grips with this shocking news.”
Not only cricketers the various sports bodies of valley have also condemned the attack and expressed their shock on the incident.
“Till now nothing like that sort had happened in the cricketing world and no body would have imagined that the cricketers would be targeted directly. It is unfortunate and sad for sports and we condemn it,” said secretary J&K Sports Development Association, Riyaz Ahmad.
“We think that all kind of sports are on death bed in Pakistan. Pakistani cricket has got huge following in Kashmir and for sometime we have been barred to see our stars playing,” he added.
The most shocked by this incident are the hard die fans of cricket particularly of Pakistan cricket.
“I cannot believe this, since morning I am watching television and with every flash my heart saddens,” said a cricket fan, Irfan of Dalgate.
Another fan Showkat from Jawahar Nagar said that before this attack he was happy that cricket has again started in Pakistan.
“We were happy that cricket is finally back in Pakistan and the triple century by Younis Khan added to our joy. But that has all is gone now with this brutal and condemnable attack” he said.
This shootout on Sri Lankan team could be termed as the saddest episode in the history of cricket. Another such incident took place during Munich Olympics in 1972 when Israeli sportsmen were targeted. This incident has cast heavy doubts on the future of cricket in Pakistan. Touring Pakistan has always been questioned by countries like Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa over the last few years. Even India, which had supported Pakistan, showed thumbs down after 26/11 attacks. These attacks have put a stamp on the claims that Pakistan is a dangerous place to tour. God knows if teams would dare to tour Pakistan in the coming times.

No comments: