I was hit by a shrapnel, reveals Sangakkara

(March 03, Lahore, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara, one of the players injured during the terror attack in Lahore, said that he does not regret coming to Pakistan despite the attack.

Sangakkara said that some players received minor injures and no one was seriously injured.

"Everyone is safe. There are a few injuries but all the players are out of danger. There is shock. Thilan (Samaraweera) has a bullet shot in his leg but he is fine. Paranavitana (Tharanga Paranavitana) was in the hospital and he had a shrapnel in his chest but thank god it didn't penetrate deep in the body. It was just on the surface. Everyone is OK. I had shrapnel inside my shoulder but they have all been taken out. I am OK. Ajantha (Ajantha Mendis) had a few in his back and scalp but he is fine. Everyone else is perfectly alright," said Sangakkara.

However, despite being in the firing line of the terrorists Sangakkara said that he did not regret coming to Pakistan.

"Very unfortunate that this has happened. I don't regret coming to play cricket and that is what all of us have been doing. That is what we have done all our lives. That is our profession. I don't regret coming to play cricket. I regret what has happened and the situation that we have gone through. All we want is to go back home to our families and get back home and be safe. that is all I am think now," he said.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya said that he spoke to some of the players and confirmed that none of them suffered any major injury.

"Luckily everybody is OK. There are just a few injuries. I just spoke to Kumar Sangakkara and there are little injures but everyone is ok and it is under control," said Jayasuriya.

"Kumar (Sangakkara) is on the list, Mahela (Jayawardene) was injured, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana are the players injured. I don't know about the management side and who all are injured. But the player are injured but safe at the moment," Jayasuriya said.

The veteran cricketer said that the players were shocked and want to return home.

"This is an unfortunate incident. You can't control these things but I think the players are shocked at the moment. They have never gone through like this before as a cricket team. So I feel for them. I know what they are going through at the moment. it is a terrible time. They are all safe and that is the good news. When I spoke to Kumar I don't think they will stay back and play. They will come back to Sri Lanka as soon as possible. It depends on the injuries. Priority is to look after the cricketers and get back then to Sri Lanka." he said.

Jayasuriya also said that he spoke to Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara's wife.

"I don't think any one got a bullet directly but I spoke Chaminda Vaas the first thing in the morning and he said everybody was OK. Then I spoke to Kumar. Everybody is OK. I spoke to Kumar's wife and told her not to worry and everyone is OK. She was upset and it is but natural. She is expecting that is why she should not worry too much," he added. -Agencies

-Sri Lanka Guardian