Attack stuns Sangakkara

_{ICC president David Morgan and chief executive Haroon Lorgat speak to the media after the Lahore attack}

Sri Lanka vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara says there were no indications that the terrorist attack on the team bus in Lahore was likely to occur.

Sangakkara was one of seven players who were injured when gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lanka team bus as it made its way to the way to the Gaddafi Stadium ahead of the third day of the second Test. Six policeman guarding the bus died along with two civilians.

Thilan Samaraweera suffered the most serious injuries. Tharanga Paranavitana, Ajantha Mendis and Mahela Jayawardene, and assistant coach Paul Farbrace, were wounded by shrapnel in the incident, while Chaminda Vaas and Suranga Lakmal were also injured.

Sangakkara said: “There are a few injuries but everyone is safe and all the players are out of danger. We are shocked, but apart from that everyone is okay.

“Thilan has a shrapnel wound in his leg, but he is fine. “Paranavitana had shrapnel in his chest, but thank God it wasn't very deep and just on the surface.

“I had shrapnel injuries in my shoulder, but they have all been removed and I'm okay now.

The remainder of the Sri Lanka team leave the Gaddafi Stadium by helicopter after the incident

“Ajantha had shrapnel in his neck and scalp, but he too has had medical attention and is fine.

“It’s very unfortunate that this has happened. Everything had gone on very well until this morning, but it just goes to show that nothing is as it seems.

“I don't regret coming here to play cricket because that's what we have been doing all our lives. That is our profession.

“But I regret this incident, what has happened and the situation that we have had to go through.

“All we want to do now is to go back home to our families, get back home and be safe.”

Farbrace, the former Kent and Middlesex wicketkeeper, said: “It became pretty obvious after a couple of minutes that we were under attack,

“People have talked about grenades, rocket-launchers and all sorts but I have to say I wasn't aware of too much because I was lying on the floor of the coach and just hoping to God I wasn't going to be struck.

“We all got off the coach thankfully because of our driver, who we have just met again and thanked him profusely for his unbelievable efforts to get us out of there.

“We were very lucky that he was able to get us out of the situation.”