Bus Driver Who Saved Sri Lankan Players From Terrorists In 2009 Recalls Meeting With MS Dhoni & Suresh Raina

If not for Meher Muhammad Khaleel, Sri Lankan cricket would suffered an irreparable damage. Khaleel was the bus driver on the fateful day of March 3, 2009 when militants, attacked the Sri Lankan team bus, injuring six players while killing six Pakistani policemen and two civilians. But none of the Sri Lankan players suffered an big injury and the credits should be given to Khaleel who drove the bus to safety even after it was attacked by rocket launcher and machine guns.

Khalil was lauded by one and all after he held his nerve to drive the team to safety and was rewarded by many including the Sri Lankan government. The famed bus driver was praised by two very special persons- MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina.

Recalling the incident when he met the Indian cricket stars, he told The Indian Express: “I saw MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina at that time (in South Africa). Raina spoke very warmly and Dhoni said, ‘you are so brave, you saved them,’ and I told him, ‘mere bhi bhai hain voh Sri Lankans, ek bhai ke liye jaan dene ko taiyaar hai’ (they are my brothers as well, I can give my life to save them).”

Sri Lanka is currently gearing up to visit Lahore again later this month for a T20I. However, some of the players have expressed their concerns and Khalil totally understands their apprehensions.

“It’s so easy for people to say play here but only those who went through that experience can understand that: Khauf and dehshat jo beeti hai unpey, (fear and terror that they went through) is not easy to forget,” said. “I can understand that. But my request to them is that the situation is better: army is with you, our people are with you, and you will be safe.”