Hello all,

Some of you may know that I have re-joined Sri Lanka cricket and some may not. unfortunately I was in the bus during the terrorist attack in pakistan. Below I have written two versions of what happened. The first version is what really did happen and the second is how I saw things from my perspective.

Factual Account

We were driving to the ground in our team bus, the same way we have travelled the past few days, even though we were supposed to take a different route each day for security purposes.

We were travelling with a jeep at the front of the bus with four men carrying machine guns and the same at the rear of the bus. There was also a motorbike with a gunman in pillion on each side of the bus.

 As we got to the large roundabout two cars reversed in front of the team bus to block its path and two gunmen jumped out of the cars.

These gunmen pointed guns to the front of the bus and started shooting, we pretty quickly realised we were being attacked and all hit the deck

The front jeep had been blown up with a rocket launcher and now bullets were hitting the bus from all sides. There was popping noises all around the bus and inside the bus with bits of metal flying around inside the bus all around us. We heard some grumbling noises and some metal bits scattering and we later found out that this was two grenades which were thrown at us.

Inside players were taking it in turn to moan or yell as bullets or shrapnel hit them. Overall we were pretty calm just lying on the ground hoping we could ride it out. It turns out that most of our armed police were dead or fled and the bullets weren’t stopping. We started to yell “Go, go, go. Get the bus out of here”. Our driver who was also ducking the bullets bravely got up and drove the bus towards and around the cars blocking our path even though they kept shooting at us and him. They threw another grenade which luckily didn’t go off. Just as we were going around the roundabout and towards the stadium a rocket launcher was shot at us but just missed us as we turned and exploded against the tower in front of us. They kept shooting at the bus as we were driving away, but soon we were safe at the stadium. 

The Umpires were travelling in the car behind our convey and had their driver shot dead. They were stuck in the middle of the road and were showered with bullets. Most of the bullets hit the bags that were stacked up in the back of their bus. They were shot at until their security guard who travelled with them, pushed the dead driver aside and got in the driving seat and drove away.

At the ground we were all pretty shocked, angry and bewildered, but just started tending to and looking after the injured players. Thankfully none were too seriously injured.

Personal Account

I was sitting in my usual seat on the bus (4th row on the right side) just finished talking on the phone when I heard some fire crackers going off, a couple of them were pretty big and loud. I thought they were celebrating the return of tests in Pakistan. Soon realised it was gunfire when I heard noises against the bus. My initial thought was that there was a small skirmish outside and our armed escorts were shooting at the outlaws and it would soon be over. Then I saw a man in civilian clothes running towards the bus and pointing a machine gun right in our direction. 

It seems everyone realised at about the same time that we were under attack and simultaneously several people yelled “Get Down” and we all hit the deck pretty quickly. Its amazing how flat you can make yourself when you need to as we were all spreading ourselves on the floor trying to get as low as possible and contorting various body parts around the legs of the bus seats. Many of our faces were jammed up against back sides of our team-mates but didn’t care. I could hear yelps starting at the back of the bus as people were getting hit and the yelps were slowly getting closer towards me as different people were getting hit by shrapnel and bullets. I was waiting for my turn to be hit as I could hear pinging noises striking the bus from all directions and metal bits whizzing above our heads.

I was wondering when and where exactly I would be hit, and was bracing myself the whole time. I could see my sunglasses on the bus floor and was hoping the fitness trainer’s foot wouldn’t kick them or squash them and ruin the lenses.  Must grab them as soon as the shooting stops!  Hope they don’t hit my new computer either. The yelps continued towards me then around to my left and then in front of me. I felt a couple of hot spots hit my elbow and calf as small hot bits of tiny shrapnel hit me. Nothing more than minor scratches but at the time I couldn’t see them and was wondering if I had actually been hit by bullets but wasn’t feeling too much pain because of all the adrenaline or maybe I was really tough? As I said, it just turned out to be tiny shrapnel scratches. 

I was sure the bullets would stop at any second because now I was starting to really worry.  Felt a lot better as I felt the bus moving again and we all kept on the floor until the bus got to the safety of the stadium. Then when we got off the bus I started cursing and swearing like I never have before. It was the only thing that made me feel better. Then began the task of Dettol–ing and patching the bleeding players up. It was the only time they didn’t complain about dettol stinging....they usually ask for betadine, but we all now beteadine is too messy! Won’t be going to Pakistan anymore!!