A Lankan cricketer`s good wishes

[~Red Devil~]

A Lankan cricketer`s good wishes

SRI Lankan newspapers have published a statement made by the new cricket captain, T.M. Dilshan, in England, regarding refusing to play cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan has a crisis at the moment. The ICC and test-playing nations have accepted that it is not safe to play international cricket in Pakistan. We too had terrorism, and the LTTE ravaged our country for three decades. They destroyed almost all our leaders, properties worth billions of dollars and killed thousands of people. When the situation was like this, one cricket team came to Sri Lanka and cancelled it halfway. Two other leading cricketing nations refused to play World Cup matches in Sri Lanka in 1996. However, India and Pakistan sent their players to Sri Lanka to play an exhibition cricket match to show the world that cricket could be played in Sri Lanka in spite of terrorism. Today, a new era in peace has dawned for Sri Lanka. The government has destroyed terrorism with the help of friendly countries. Pakistan gave all its support to Sri Lanka to crush terrorism, and its ambassador in Sri Lanka almost paid with his dear life when a LTTE suicide bomber targeted him. Now, it is the Darusman report from the UN, which is detrimental to the country and, again, Pakistan has come forward to defend Sri Lanka. This is how Pakistan stands by her friend, Sri Lanka. Even though Sri Lanka played good cricket, the ICC never considered it fit for test status. It was Abdul Hafeez Kardar who fought for Sri Lankan cricket with the ICC. After non-stop campaigning for several years by Mr Kardar, Sri Lanka obtained test status in 1981. Pakistan has produced some of the world`s greatest cricketers like Majid Khan, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, the Mohammed brothers, Zaheer Abbas and Wasim Akram. Now it is our turn to help Pakistan get back to normal cricket. The part that Pakistan played for peace and cricket in Sri Lanka is unforgettable. There are no immediate cricket tours to Pakistan by the Sri Lankan team but sooner or later cricket will resume in Pakistan. During our bad times, Pakistan has been a true friend to us. As a former first-class cricketer, I say we all must pray that peace returns to Pakistan. May Pakistan enjoy peace and cricket in the very near future. I only hope that the press misquoted Dilshan. RALPH GUNAWARDENA Colombo

http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/13/a-lan...od-wishes.html

[Assadrulz]

brilliant...thanks for sharing..

[what ho]

Admirable sentiments but I am guessing the chap has not been shot at after being promised Presidential level security by the powers that be unlike Dilshan and the rest of the Sri Lankan team.

[Saqs]

Wait so this is Dilshan's statement?

Why does he say at the end "I only hope that the press misquoted Dilshan."?

Not up with the history of this whole thing. Did Dilshan say something and this is a response?

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by Saqib Salman Wait so this is Dilshan's statement? Why does he say at the end "I only hope that the press misquoted Dilshan."? Not up with the history of this whole thing. Did Dilshan say something and this is a response?

Dilshan never wants to tour Pakistan again.

[kingusama92]

Like I said when Dilshan made the statement, i'd have the same feelings!

He was in the bus that was shot at. He has no direct affiliation with Pakistan and doesn't have a soft corner for our country.

If you were sitting in a bus (with guaranteed security) and were shot at in Sri Lanka, would you not say the same thing?

The SL people and players have been exceptionally classy about the whole thing. In fact, I don't think you could find a classier response after such a situation.

[asian123]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dilshan never wants to tour Pakistan again.

Dont make it sound like that. He said not atm and who can blame him? He was fricken shot at...

[asian123]

Originally Posted by Saqib Salman Wait so this is Dilshan's statement? Why does he say at the end "I only hope that the press misquoted Dilshan."? Not up with the history of this whole thing. Did Dilshan say something and this is a response?

No. An old ex-cricketer said this regarding Pak-SL ties and he hoped that SL would help Pakistan since we are in trouble. It is in response to a quote by Dilshan, which was said a few months ago, stating that he did not want to tour Pak anytime soon.

[Saqs]

Ah k.

Thanks for the clarification.

Agreed with KU's post though - had this happened to any other country, the backlash would have been tenfold.

Players would have taken early retirement to milk the thing for what it's worth and release books, movies and theme parks (?) about it.

[Ashraful_Rox]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dilshan never wants to tour Pakistan again.

Can you blame him? If you get shot once in Pakistan, I don't think you would ever want to travel there.

[Ryankhan]

i resspect srilanka and their people and i wish they visit pak soon and cricket returns to pak.

[ash 68]

Originally Posted by what ho Admirable sentiments but I am guessing the chap has not been shot at after being promised Presidential level security by the powers that be unlike Dilshan and the rest of the Sri Lankan team.

The sentiment is important, The World needs to help "encourage " the Pakistani people to change the status quo

Just running away and ignoring it wont help. Cricketing countries could do more to help each other for the benefit of the sport as a whole rather than use it a weapon/cash cow