attack on cricket!

Terrorists today staged a commando-style attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team as they were being bussed to a Test match in Pakistan.Six players were injured and six police escorts killed when they were ambushed by masked gunmen with AK-47s, grenades and rocket launchers.The attackers had arrived in rickshaws and burst out in front of the bus, spraying bullets, as it neared the Gadaffi stadium in Lahore.

Batsman Thilan Samaraweera was shot in the leg and opening batsman Tharanga Paranthavina was hit in the chest by shrapnel, both were being treated in hospital and according to the sources all of them are out of danger.Three more players Sangakara, Jayawardene, Mendis and head coach Australian Trevor Bayliss, received minor injuries.Chris Broad, in a car of match officials behind the bus which was also attacked but was uninjured. Fourth umpire, the local Pakistani umpire, was hit in the back and was seriously injured.

Police said up to 12 gunmen were involved in the attack at 8.40am local time as the bus reached a roundabout. They arrived on rickshaws before opening fire.There were immediate claims the terrorists were part of the same group blamed for the horrific attack on the Indian city of Mumbai last November.I feel that India had made a wise decision to cancel their tour of Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks.

The team, apart from the two being treated in hospital, went on to the stadium and were later airlifted by a army helicopter to Abu-Dhabi and from here they will be flying back to their home today itself .The match was canceled and the series called off. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned the attack and ordered his foreign minister to immediately travel to Pakistan to help assist in the team's evacuation and ensure they are safe.

Its time for Pakistan to seriously think of its internal security after just 2 weeks back the entire Swat region came under the control of Pro-Taliban regime.If they keep crumbling under the pressure it might not take much time for it to become a Taliban nation and might have to suffer the same fate as Afghanistan.

team india's new look

Even though it has conquered everything that came its way of late, on Wednesday it seemed Team India's blues got a bit deeper off the field, the colour of the team's new kit for limited-overs cricket which has got a shade darker.

Team India has traditionally sported light blue jerseys since the last two decades, but its kit sponsors, Nike, have come up with a different colour this time for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.It is no longer sky blue, but a darker shade, something you would associate with the Sri Lankan team.

jayawardena steps down as captain

Mahela Jayawardene is stepping down as captain after their tour of Pakistan, the 31-year-old announced today. Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's most successful Test captain, met with national selectors earlier in the day and informed them of his decision to stand down after three years at the helm.

Sri Lanka will play 2 test matches in Pakistan beginning 21st Feb. In the press conference he said "This is is something I have been considering for some time as it has been my long-held belief that my successor should have at least 18 months in the job to imprint his vision on the team for the 2011 World Cup.....after much thought, I have concluded that the right time has now come for fresh leadership to takeover."

The recent ODI series defeat against India (4-1) at home and also his poor run with the bat must have enforced this decision upon him.Kumara Sangakara will be the front runner for the captaincy as he is the vice-captain of the Lankan team. He also said that he will completely support his new successor and hope to play a major role in the team as a batsman for years to come.

IPL season-2 auction......

The IPL fever for this season has already begun with the auction taking place at Goa.. today's auction saw the record bidding for any IPL player till date with a whooping 1.55 million $ for two Englishmen Kevin Piertersen and Andrew Flintoff beating the previous record of 1.5 million $ for M. S. Dhoni .K.P was bought by Bangalore Royal Challengers whereas Flintoff was bought by the Chennai Super Kings. Mallya owner of the Royal Challengers said in a press conference that he would have shelled out even more for KP as he adds a new dimension to the team.

The other big story of the day was Bangladesh seamer Mashrafe Mortaza being bought by Kolkata Knight Riders at 12 times above his reserve price of $50,000 for $600,000.

Delhi Daredevils picked Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood for $275,000 each while Kings XI Punjab, after an initial round of fierce bidding between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore ensured that Ravi Bopara will travel to Mohali.

Though Luke Wright and Samit Patil remained unsold, the franchises who have replacement rights can still rope them in because they are part of the initial list of 115 players made available for the auction.

Mumbai Indians picked up South African Jean-Paul Duminy ($950,000) while Rajasthan Royals took Duminy’s compatriot Tyron Henderson for $650,000.

Brad Haddin, Mohd. Ashraful, Stuart Clark, Andre Nel, Phil Jaques, Darren Powell and Dominic Thornley were some of the players who didn't go under the hammer.. the season 2 of IPL begins April 10th...