Khalil calls upon SLC to send national team to Pakistan

Jatila KARAWITA

Meher Mohammed Khalil, who was at the wheel in the coach that he drove the Sri Lanka cricket team towards safety at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, when it came under terrorist fire on March 3, called on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and other cricket boards, to send their national teams to his country (Pakistan), in a joint effort of solidarity to fight the scourge of terrorism from the region.

“Terrorism is not just confined to Pakistan,” Khalil who was feted at a luncheon organised by Aitken Spence Travels - the company looking after his entire tour arrangement and travel said.

“Terrorism has now crept into sports unfortunately, and cricket being the sport that binds all our sub-continent nations together, we must put forward a joint effort to overcome this menace.”

“And in that endeavour, I hope and pray to God, that Sri Lanka will not abandon Pakistan not only in cricket but in other aspects as well, and fight this scourge with courage and conviction.”

Khalil speaking through an interpreter Ayaz Khan, Protocol Officer, Pakistan High Commission, noted that he was overwhelmed by the response given to him since arriving in the country for the first time and to see smiling faces everywhere was a ‘pleasant experience’.

The Pakistan coach driver Khalil who is here with his wife and brother-in-law on a week-long holiday initiated by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) to show gratitude following his selfless act of heroism in safeguarding the lives’ of the Sri Lankan cricketers, stated that before arriving in Colombo he had heard about the decades-long war the Government Security Forces had been engaged in with the LTTE rebels, but had been determined to be in Sri Lanka to show the world that Sri Lanka was not alone in fighting the ‘monster of terrorism.’

“The passion for cricket is pretty strong in Sri Lanka as it is in Pakistan.”

“But, there are many other beautiful places to visit here, a few places which I am looking forward to go, and when I go back home, I will have fond memories to relate to my countrymen.”

Khalil, who has arrived in the island for a week-long stay is also expected to visit historic sites in Dambulla, Sigiriya and Kandy before winding the tour in Bentota.

He is to leave the country over the weekend.

He also thanked the ANCL in particular, its Chairman Bandula Padmakumara for taking the initiative in inviting him and his family for a tour of the country, and Aitken Spence Travels for making the travel arrangements and providing accommodation along with SriLankan Airlines who had provided the air tickets.