Terrorism and Cricket
By Amna Khalique | News & Politics | Sports | Published 15 years ago
April 21, 1987 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
The New Zealand team flew to Colombo for a three-Test tour. During the tour a suicide bomber struck a bus station in the city, killing more than 100 people. The three-test tour was reduced to just one Test match and the team returned home.
November 16, 1992 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
A suicide bomb attack by Tamil Tiger rebels outside the hotel, where the New Zealand team was staying, killed four people. Five of the players along with the coach decided to go home.
July 24, 2001 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Thirteen Tamil Tiger suicide bombers strapped explosives on their backs and broke through the airport security in Colombo in the early hours and detonated themselves on the runway just as a flight from the Maldives landed on the airstrip. At least 14 people were killed and 12 others injured. The New Zealand team continued with their tour amidst tight security.
May 8, 2002 (Karachi, Pakistan)
The New Zealand team flew home after a suicide bomber detonated himself outside the Sheraton, Karachi, where the team was staying. The attack killed 11 French navy experts staying at the hotel and two Pakistanis, and also injured the team’s physiotherapist.
March 11, 2008 (Lahore, Pakistan)
A suicide bomber in a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into the gate outside the FIA building, killing at least 21 people, including a three-year-old girl. Minutes later, a second blast occured as another suicide bomber crashed through the gates of an advertising agency, killing three people, including two children. Over 200 people were injured. Just hours after the blast, the Australian cricket team postponed its tour to Pakistan.
September 13, 2008 (Delhi, India)
A series of five synchronised bomb blasts occured in the Indian capital, killing 20 people and injuring more than 90 people. Earlier in the year, three other bomb blasts occurred in India, in Jaipur (killing 60 people), Bangalore (killing two people) and in Ahmedabad (killing 56 people). The Australian cricket team, due to arrive in a week, decided to go ahead with the tour.
November 26, 2008 (Mumbai, India)
In a series of attacks across India’s financial capital, Mumbai, including the siege of the Taj Mahal hotel, 170 people were killed and over 300 injured. The England cricket team flew home, but returned later to continue the tour.
March 3, 2009 (Lahore, Pakistan)
The Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by 12 gunmen en route to the Gaddafi Stadium. The shootout lasted 30 minutes, killing six policemen while seven players and cricket officials were injured.
This article appears as a box within Cricket’s Darket Hour.