Bipin Dani, courtesy of Pakistan Observer, where the title is “Sri Lanka’s Lahore terror attack victim Tharanga Paranavitana welcomes move to play cricket in Pakistan”
“It is a welcome move by our board and I support it. If our team is going there then the players should concentrate only on cricket and forget about that incident. The team should visit Pakistan as the fans there are deprived of good cricket. Pakistan are a good side now and if the situation has improved there, it is good to resume playing cricket,” Paranavitana, 35, told mid-day yesterday.
“I think our boys have to play proper cricket. We only have two to three senior players and they will have to guide the youngsters,” he added.
Talking about the dreadful day, Paranavitana added: “While we were on our way to the ground, we heard a big sound and our bus was surrounded by four shooters. I can’t remember much about the incident now, but it was almost like a film. The effect of the trauma was present for a few days. It was very sad.”
Asked whether he would like to visit Pakistan again if the victims of the terror attack were invited for cricket matches, Paranavitana said: “I am not too sure. I have to consult my family first.”
Paranavitana injured in Lahore attack
SEE Roberts, “Cricket under Siege: The Lahore Attack”,”in Michael Roberts, Incursions, Colombo, Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2011, chap 6,