Terror Attack on Sri Lanka Cricket Team: Today (3 March 2026) completes 17 years of the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan. This is one of the most painful and scary incidents in cricket history, which changed the game forever. This is the incident which left a black spot on Pakistan cricket. After this incident, no cricket team even toured Pakistan for many years.
When there was a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team
In the year 2009, Sri Lankan cricket team was on Pakistan tour. The second test match was going on between the two teams at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This test match was to run from 1 to 5 March. But everything changed on the morning of March 3. The Sri Lankan team was going towards the stadium in a bus from the hotel. This bus was accompanied by a police convoy, in which there were tight security arrangements. But on the way suddenly 12 masked terrorists attacked. They were armed with AK-47 rifles, rocket propelled grenades (RPG) and dozens of hand grenades.
Bullets fired at players
The terrorists started firing rapidly on the bus. But the bus driver Mohammad Khalil showed bravery, he quickly moved the bus towards the stadium and took it inside the gate, which saved the lives of the players. A total of 8 people were killed in the attack. At the same time, many players of the Sri Lankan team were injured, including captain Mahela Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Suranga Lakmal and Ajantha Mendis.
A legendary player like Kumar Sangakkara had a shrapnel on his shoulder. At the same time, a bullet had gone through Mahela Jayawardene’s ankle. But the most serious injury was suffered by Samaraweera. The terrorists’ bullet had hit him in his thigh. After this incident, the match was immediately canceled and the entire series was over. The Sri Lankan team was immediately airlifted and sent back to Colombo. This was the first incident since the 1972 Munich Olympics when the playing field or players were directly targeted. Due to which international cricket in Pakistan came to a standstill for almost 10 years. Pakistan had to play its ‘home’ matches in UAE. Gradually the situation improved and then the teams started going back to Pakistan. However, the Indian team has not toured Pakistan from abroad since 2008.