Simon Taufel Recalls 2009 Terror Attack, Says It Still Traumatises Him

The 2009 terror attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team bus in Pakistan was one of the heinous crimes the cricket world have witnessed. Recalling the incident, former umpire Simon Taufel, who was one of the umpires officiating the tour said that the memories still traumatises him and that he is not sure whether he can put the incident behind entirely.

The incident took place on March 3, 2009, when 12 gunmen hiding near Liberty Square, in the centre of Lahore fired at a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, who were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium. The Pakistan police, who were escorting the bus fired in return which resulted in the death of six police officers and two civilians. Many top Sri Lankan cricketers including Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas sustained injuries. Thilanga Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were hospitalised following the incident.

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Simon Taufel recalls the 2009 terror attack

Furthermore, a minivan following the team bus carrying the match referee and umpires was also fired upon, and the driver was killed. Simon Taufel including other umpires and match referee Chris Broad were in that minivan. Recalling the incident in his book Finding the Gaps, Taufel said that it will be difficult to leave that incident behind entirely.

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“Since that day, loud noises and sudden bangs make us jumpy and at breakfast that morning, the sound of a spoon hitting the floor almost caused us to lie flat on the floor again. I thought it might take us some time to work through this disaster and I was not even sure if we would be able to put it entirely behind us. Even today, fireworks and the sound of any guns, or similar loud sounds, are somewhat uncomfortable,” Taufel wrote in his recently released book Finding the Gaps.

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Furthermore, Simon Taufel revealed that they were aware of security concerns ahead of the Sri Lanka series. Thus, they were in constant touch with the International Cricket Council and were given assurance on these matters. The second Test, which was the last scheduled fixture of the tour, was abandoned as a draw,

“Before this series, Steve, Chris and I had been quite aware of the potential security issues within Pakistan, and we went to extraordinary lengths to communicate with the ICC on these matters and we were given repeated assurance,” Taufel concluded.

Since then, Pakistan played all their home games in the United Arab Emirates as international teams were reluctant to tour the country. However, earlier this year, Sri Lanka toured for a full-length T20I, and ODI series and Pakistan officials are hopeful that game will again return to their country.