Sri Lankan cricketers: Former England cricketer Chris Broad hailed hero of Lahore ambush

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 03/03/09 | Isambard Wilkinson

[Hatter6]

Former England cricketer Chris Broad has been hailed a hero of the terrorist ambush in Lahore after throwing himself on top of a critically injured umpire Ahsan Raza during the attack.

The 51-year-old former batsman was travelling in a motorcade carrying players and officials which came under fire outside the Gaddafi Stadium.

Eight people were killed and seven members of the Sri Lankan squad, including its English assistant coach Paul Farbrace were wounded.

The attack cast the future of the game in Pakistan, one of the co-hosts for the 2011 World Cup, into serious doubt.

Mr Broad, who was to be the match referee at the ill-fated tie between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was travelling in an officials' minibus when the Sri Lankan team coach in front came under attack.

As the team coach was steered to safety inside the ground, they were stranded outside the stadium after their driver was shot dead.

Meanwhile Mr Farbrace, the former Kent and Middlesex cricketer, was hit with shrapnel as he lay, praying, on the floor of the team coach itself, "like a sitting duck".

Mr Broad, whose 22-year-old son Stuart is also a Nottinghamshire and England cricketer, was with Australian umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis, their Pakistani colleague Nadeem Ghouri and Ahsan Raza, the local umpire when the firing began.

Seeing blood pouring from Mr Raza's back after he was hit in the back by a bullet or piece of flying glass, leaving him critically injured, Mr Broad lay on top of him to protect him.

"It was very brave," said Mr Ghouri.

[Hatter6]

The International Cricket Council are now saying that international cricket in Pakistan is finished. No great loss, their team has not handled itself very gracefully over the last few years.

[flowerplough]

This attack doesn’t just cast serious doubt on the future of the game of cricket in Pakistan, it casts serious doubt on the future of Pakistan.

[CaptRon]

The attack cast the future of the game in Pakistan, one of the co-hosts for the 2011 World Cup, into serious doubt.

"serious doubt"!?

[denydenydeny]

The attack cast the future of the game in Pakistan, one of the co-hosts for the 2011 World Cup, into serious doubt.

Captain Obvious to the rescue.