Umpires Slam Pakistan Security After Cricket Attack
06/03/2009 06:14
LAHORE, Pakistan, March 5, 2009 (AFP) – Pakistan on Thursday faced fresh criticism over security lapses after the deadly attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team, as police hunted for the gunmen behind the ambush.
Tuesday's attack in Lahore -- which left six police and two civilians dead, and several Sri Lankan cricketers wounded -- has raised questions about the effectiveness of Pakistan's war on Islamic militants.
The government in Islamabad has set up a special investigation committee to track down the culprits, and police have so far detained about two dozen people over the attack, but match officials said not enough was done to protect them.
"There's a bit of anger there that we were let down -- we had all sorts of assurances before and I'm sure the (Sri Lankan) team feels that way too," Australian umpire Steve Davis told reporters Thursday at Melbourne airport.
"Despite all that, this was still able to happen and we were put in a very vulnerable position and felt very helpless."
Davis and other umpires were travelling in a convoy with the Sri Lankan team towards Gaddafi stadium for the third day of the second Test with Pakistan when up to 12 men opened fire with automatic weapons and grenades.
Simon Taufel, another Australian umpire caught in the attack, also vented his fury at Pakistan, questioning how their bus had been left unprotected as the gunmen launched their assault.
We were promised a nine (out of 10 on security) and got delivered a two," Taufel said upon his arrival home.
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SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
In a country like Pakistan, unfortunately anything is possible. I have a solution for those types of countries – everyone else should stay home and let them go at each other.