"Sad that sportspersons are attacked"

 
Surveying the damage: Pakistan captain Younis Khan gets a close look of the Sri Lankan team bus that was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday.

Napier: The violence in Pakistan affected the first One Day International here at McLean Park. The cricketers, most of whom heard of the news mid-way through India’s innings, were shocked.

M.S. Dhoni confessed he blanked out, while Daniel Vettori said his side was devastated by the news. “Daniel (Vettori) was bowling then, Yuvraj (Singh) had just got out, and I was quite blank and shocked at that time,” said Dhoni. “I just hear the Sri Lankan cricketers are fine. It’s sad that sportspersons are attacked; even a civilian getting attacked is just as sad. I hope they are all fine.”

Being alert

Asked if he was relieved India didn’t tour Pakistan as scheduled earlier this year, Dhoni said: “I am glad I am in New Zealand and I don’t have to worry about these things. From now on cricketers will be on alert, but there’s not much a cricketer could have done in a situation like this when the whole convoy is attacked.

“I am happy that we didn’t tour Pakistan, or happy that the government didn’t allow us to tour Pakistan. It may have happened to us, it may not have happened to us. But overall I am happy to be here. People say sport is not targeted, but you are not immune to it. Once a guy decides to attack the cricketers, we are not tough targets.”

Vettori sympathetic

Vettori said his side was “grateful to know the Sri Lankan cricketers are okay”, adding that his team’s “thoughts and sympathies go to the Sri Lankan team and the security people that were killed during the incident. We’ve got some good friends in the Sri Lankan team; the Indians are also close to a lot of them.”

Both captains said the future of the game in Pakistan —including the possibility of co-hosting the 2011 World Cup — was bleak. Vettori said there was little chance New Zealand would tour Pakistan later this year.

Real meaning of tragedy

The South African captain Graeme Smith has said the attack brought home to him the real meaning of tragedy.

“The word tragedy is often used to describe a setback on the sporting field, but this is a real tragedy, for all the people of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, for cricket, and for all decent people,” he said in a statement.

“There is a tremendous brotherhood among cricketers around the world and at this time South Africans extend their sympathy to all those affected by this terrible event.

Real suffering

“We are hurting after our defeat by Australia yesterday, but this puts into perspective what real suffering is. Our thoughts are with the Sri Lankan players and we hope they arrive home safely to their families.”

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was left scarred by the attack.

“On behalf of the Australian cricket team I would like to express our deepest condolences to those who have been affected by the tragic events” Ponting said in a statement released by Cricket Australia.

He said the entire cricket world was behind Sri Lanka in this hour of crisis.

“We have spoken with members of the Sri Lankan team this morning and made them aware we are extremely saddened by what has happened and that our best wishes are with them all.”