ID :
49282
Fri, 03/06/2009 - 12:37
Auther :

Tharanga, Thilan still in hospital, others discharged



Colombo, Mar 5 (PTI) 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 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. PTI TVS
PMR

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