Field Theory by Hadyn Green

a sad day hayden, and it's important to remember the 8 deaths and other serious injuries.........have said before I love cricket and this is just horrible for the sport and for the people of Pakistan......not sure what else to say really......

Is there some kind of animosity between Pakistan and Sri Lanka that I was unaware of?

Small consolation, but thank goodness they were only doing it for the publicity. If they'd gone into the grounds and opened fire during the match...

It's a terrible shame. Thank goodness the players are [largely] alright, but I've heard enough 'I told you so's' on the radio today to last a lifetime.

Justin Vaughan said it best - If you stop playing in and with the Asian countries, cricket will die. Compare the crowds of the NZ/Aus series and NZ/India or Aus/India and you'll get a good idea of what he meant

Oh and potential conspiracy theory: apparently in Pakistan both teams travel together because it's easier to guard, but yesterday Pakistan decided to use a different van.

I am struck by the odd elitism/racism of the reporting of this story.

1st story: "ZOMG! The Sri lankan team has been attacked"!

5 minutes later...

"Thank God, it was only six local policemen who were killed".

anyone traveling for cricket in Pakistan is a potential terrorist target.
but if wasn't for the sri lankan team there wouldn't have been games on right now as india canceled their tour to Pakistan, which is hy their tour here got expanded, which is extremely lucky for nz as india brings in the money for nz cricket.

so the sri lankan team kind of filled a gap left by india.
so to see india pulling out to start off with was sad
and now the see the sri lankan team fired upon
it's pretty sucky

Add tho that political hisotry of cricket in pakistan, especially with india. 2003 was the first time india played in pakistan and it was a huge thing, and cricket was one way the two countries were talking to each other.

Six Policemen killed and seven cricketers injured?
are we really sure who the target was?
Who has claimed responsibility?
This has nothing to do with cricket, unless Sri Lanka beating Pakistan is a reason and I find that really hard to believe.

Six Policemen killed and seven cricketers injured?

Yes. A bus driver was also killed. And one Pakistani umpire in a critical condition. And another umpire and a coach were injured.

are we really sure who the target was?

No. But a large amount of the bullets went towards the buses.

Who has claimed responsibility?

When I wrote this, no one.

This has nothing to do with cricket

Much like the Munich attack had nothing to do with the Olympics. There is obviously a stronger underlying problem here.

However, the use of cricket was clear and deliberate. It makes the attack sharper in the minds of the public. The terrorists are strong enough to take cricket away from Pakistan

Steve: i agree. A 30 minute ambush in which it looks like the Sri lankan team bus was hit by only acciddental fire from fourteen heavily armed gunmen indicates to me at least the possibility that they weren't the target, and until someone claims responsibility we can't rule out the target was actually the police.

really
you don't think the policemen were there to protect the sri lanakan team?

because trust me in Pakistan a cricket team wouldn't have all hopped in a bus and drove off without shitloads of security.

and until someone claims responsibility we can't rule out the target was actually the police.

I think that can pretty much be ruled out.

Not to mention

The driver of the team bus, Mohammad Khalil, said the militants fired a rocket at the vehicle but missed. They also threw a grenade under the bus, but it failed to explode.

He said the vehicle was fired on from several directions – bullet holes could be seen around it – but he kept his foot on the accelerator and kept going.

The vehicle carrying umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis and match official Chris Broad, the father of the England bowler Stuart, was also attacked.

Greg Baum has some funny ideas about terrorism and about how much a life is worth depending on your job:

But, increasingly, terrorists have shown no respect for understandings, explicit or implicit. The attack in Lahore yesterday marks a turning point. Thankfully, no cricketer died (though six security staff and two bystanders were killed). None the less, from today, new understandings come into force.

This has nothing to do with cricket.

Much like the Munich attack had nothing to do with the Olympics.

I couldn't find video from the time, but this excerpt from a documentary about legendary sportscaster Jim McKay, has some fascinating news coverage from that event:

When I was a kid my father used to say 'Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized.'
Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They have now said there were eleven hostages; two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight.
They're all gone.

That quote is v. moving Graeme. One Day In September is a worthwhile watch.

I can't add too much that smarter people than me have said already on the Sri Lankan attack. JRod from Cricket With Balls has a couple of great posts here and here.

Me again, IMHO there is nothing sadder than when a human tragedy unfolds at a sporting event and the commentators are suddenly thrust into the unfamiliar and uncomfortable role of news reporter. That just kills me. Ref: Hillsborough disaster and Bradford fire.

Brian Waddle in Pakistan in 2002 being another good example of that RI.

He's never been the same since.