Plot of Attack on Sri Lanka

Unidentified gunmen, believed to be 12 in number and armed with Kalashkinov rifles and rocket launchers, opened fire on the bus carrying the cricketers to Gaddafi stadium in the city, Dawn news channel reported.

Initial reports said the attackers came in a white car and reportedly surrounded the bus at Liberty Chowk in the heart of the city and first fired rockets at the bus. They then resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic firearms.

The attackers then started firing at a police van which was providing security to the Lankan team.

City police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said five policemen died in the attack.

A Pakistani Cricket Board official said six players were injured and admitted to a hospital.

The players reported injured are Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Jayawardene, Tharanga Paranavithana and Chaminda Vaas. Vaas was reportedly carried off on a stretcher while Samaraweera was reportedly shot at.

Six policemen are reported dead. The van carrying the umpires was also attacked. Assistant coach Paul Farbrace has also been reportedly injured.

The Sri Lankan tour has been officially called off.

The preceding events which were postponed from the scheduled date were:

1. Indian cricket team was scheduled to play three Tests, five One-Dayers and a Twenty20 match from January 4 to February 28 in Pakistan.

2. Australia pulled out of their scheduled visit, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the Champions Trophy one-day tournament in September.

In the Wake of terrorist attacks in the Indian Subcontinent and Pakistan, it is rather doubtful that the coming ICC World cup 2009 will be held in the sub-continent.
The hosting teams were really desperate that there would be no change in the schedule and host of World Cup 2009 after the MUMBAI Blasts and it lasted as they hoped. But after this attack, it is indeed made sure that it is very difficult to host the game in Asia for security concerns. Even visitors and Cricket fans have to be looked after for security.

So it will be very difficult and a very huge process to setup even if ICC doesn't change its opinion on changing the host. Lots of money will be needed to be spent on this issue which could be spent in other ways to help the nation grow.