5 instances when cricketers survived near death experiences

#3 Sri Lanka\'s team bus attacked

The driver helped save lives that day

On 4 March 2009 a team bus carrying Sri Lankan players was fired upon by 10-12 gunmen at the Liberty Square roundabout in Lahore, as they were on their way to Gaddafi stadium. Six members of the Sri Lankan team were injured in the incident. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were also killed.

Mahela Jayawardene said "The bus came under attack as we were driving to the stadium, the gunmen targeted the wheels of the bus first and then the bus. We all dived to the floor to take cover. About five players have been injured and also Paul Farbrace [a member of the support staff]

The attackers fired a rocket which missed the bus, then threw grenades underneath which failed to explode. Jayawardene said We had an amazing driver who just kept driving the bus straight through all of that to the ground and thats probably what saved us."

The team was scheduled to play the third day of the second Test against Pakistan. The Lahore Test was called off. Two players, Samaraweera and Paranavitana were severely injured in the attack.