Coach driver Khalil deserves all praise

A.C. De SILVA

CRICKET: Maheer Mohammad Khalil is his name and his designation: A coach driver who was assigned the task of taking the Sri Lankan cricketers to the Lahore Stadium for the Test against Pakistan on that eventful day - March 3.

Sri Lanka’s cricketers are alive and ready to face any opposition on the cricket field in the coming weeks because of the act of bravery on the part of Khalil and strong-willed coach driver that he was, drove the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricketers as if they were his own countrymen against the terrorist attack that day so that the Lankan cricketers will be able to keep on playing cricket.

Khalil quite naturally is hailed as a hero for the wonderful act of bravery on that eventful day. “I did it for Pakistan. I did it for Sri Lanka who were our guests,” Khalil said.

Khalil said that he was glad that he was able to take the Sri Lanka cricketers to safety on that eventful day because the people of Sri Lanka are so friendly and the cricketers a wonderful lot indeed.Sri Lanka’s new cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara paid a glowing tribute to Khalil and said that they are alive and will be able to play cricket again because of Khalil’s quick thinking and prompt action in driving that coach that day before the armed gangsters could get at them and inflict more injuries on the team.

Seven Sri Lankan players and their British Assistant Coach Paul Farbrace were injured in the attack. Eight Pakistanis, including six security force personnel were killed in the attack.

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene who was in the coach that day, spoke glowingly of the courageous act of Khalil. “Khalil you are our hero. We will always remember you with gratitude”, he said.

Sri Lanka Cricket Board had a welcome ceremony for Khalil and his wife when they arrived in Sri Lanka and Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) too organised a function to “Say Thank You” to Khalil for the wonderful act of bravery on his part in driving the Sri Lanka team to safety on that eventful day in Lahore.Abhaya Amaradasa, the General Manager of ANCL said that Khalil was the hero of Lahore who saved Sri Lanka’s most treasured cricket team. He had an abundance of guts to drive the bus into the Lahore Cricket Stadium premises and save the Sri Lanka team.

Amaradasa said that the ANCL Group of Newspapers with Chairman Bandula Padmakumara is always prepared to recognise good deeds of any individual whether he be a Sri Lankan or not and in this instance it was Chairman Padmakumara who got things moving and made it possible for Sri Lanka to say “Thank You” to a great deed by Pakistan coach driver Khalil in saving the lives of the Sri Lankan cricketers.

Premasara Epasinghe - the well-known cricket commentator thanked ANCL in felicitating Khalil for the heroic deed he performed saving the lives of the Sri Lanka cricketers. “It was the first time in the history of Sri Lanka Cricket Board that the organisation honoured a non-cricketer at Board Headquarters. Epasinghe was speaking about the function held at the Cricket Board Headquarters to “Thank Khalil” for his brave deed.Shan Shanmuganathan, the Director of Finance of ANCL said that it was the duty of readers and the general public that Sri Lanka pays tribute to coach driver Khalil who did a fine job in saving the lives of the Sri Lankan cricketers.

“Sri Lanka and Pakistan have had very close relationship from 2006 from the time of the World Cup victory in Pakistan and we say, “Thank You” to coach driver Khalil of Pakistan for driving the Sri Lanka cricketers to safety on that eventful day.

Sri Lakans be should recognise gallant deeds.

Editor of Sunday Observer and Daily News, Jayatilleke de Silva said that Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited were only too happy to recognise the brave deed of Pakistan coach driver Khalil on that eventful day. He said that the ANCL Group of Newspapers will always recognise good deeds performed by Sri Lankans and foreigners as well.

The dedicated effort of Pakistan coach driver Khalil in taking the Sri Lankan cricketers to safety that day needed recognition and that’s the reason for felicitating the Pakistani coach driver for saving the lives of the Sri Lankan cricketers.