Tharanga, Thilan still in hospital, others discharged

Sri Lanka cricketers Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, who underwent surgeries after sustaining injuries during the terrorist attack in Lahore, would need around six weeks to recover, a government doctor said.

Paranavitana, who had a bullet lodged in his chest and Samaraweera, who had shrapnel in his right leg, underwent surgery at the private Nawaloka hospital here hours after the
team returned on Wednesday.

The duo would be discharged in less than a week's time while the other injured players have already been allowed to go home and they could resume training in two weeks' time, informed Dr Geethanjana Mendis, director general of the Sports ministry medical unit.

"Barring Samaraweera and Paranavitana, others sustained only minor injuries and have been discharged," she said. Wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara, spinner Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Thilina Thushara and assistant coach Paul Farbrace were the others injured when terrorists fired bullets and hurled grenades at the bus carrying Sri Lanka team members to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the second and
final Test against Pakistan.

Mendis said Samaraweera and Paranavitana, the two who were operated upon, would be needing around six weeks to completely recover and resume work. Mendis, who had travelled to Pakistan to assess the wounded, said the 25-member squad was medically checked on their return and only six were taken to the hospital.

The injured were brought to the hospital from the Bandaranaike international airport in a special ambulance. Sangakkara was discharged from the hospital after authorities declared him fit though he was advised rest for a while.

"Doctors removed the shrapnel from the shoulder of Sangakkara and assistant coach Farbrace, a British national," Mendis said.

Former Sri Lanka skipper and former Cricket Board chief Arjuna Ranatunga told reporters that the players were recovering from their injuries. 

"My personal view is that they need time to recover, they need time to get away from the really tough situation they faced in Pakistan," said Ranatunga.

"I am sure they want to spend a little time with their families and after doing that when they recover, I am sure they will get back to cricket. But the important factor is to
take their own time and decide what they want to do," he said.

Ranatunga also urged all nations to join hands in their fight against terrorism. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who was discharged from hospital after treatment on a minor leg injury, said security during the Test series was rather lax than in the one-dayers.

"We could see more security during the one-day matches. Even the Pakistan authorities would not have expected such a situation. I am not a security expert. We expected that as a foreign team we will be given the maximum security. No one would have expected such a situation in which the players were attacked," Jayawardene said.