Why target sports persons?

The act of targeting innocent public by the terrorists is sickening enough, but the recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers, who were the true ambassadors of their country, on the third day of the second Test at Lahore has left the world shocked and numbed.

Millions of sports followers world over must be asking WHY TARGET SPORTS PERSONS?

I don't think the terrorists themselves have an answer to that as the cricketers who were fired upon were neither decision makers nor were they connected with petty politics in any way.

After this deplorable incident, the first thought a foreign sports team or a player would mull over will be to ask himself hundred times 'is the sub-continent safe enough to hold sports events and is it safe for him to participate in them'.

If you look at the recent incidents in the four cricket playing nations - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - sports seems to be taking a back stage and terrorists activities and soldier mutiny (Bangladesh) seems to be consuming more news print and more time on TV channels.

But what is shocking is why target sports persons, who are generally not only the most gifted but also most sought after entertainers in the world. A cricketer not only sacrifices all sorts of social commitments and single mindedly and selflessly pursues his career so that he can entertain the masses, he also becomes a role model for millions of fans who literally become demi-gods of sort.

Moreover, by targeting soft target like the cricketers, who were only obliging the Pakistan Cricket Board's request to come and play when every sensible nations, including Australia and India refused to go anywhere near that country, the culprits' only intention is to garner publicity and be in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Probably the terrorists' action on Tuesday clearly shows their frustration over not realizing their dreams of mass destruction. By trying to kill a Muthiah Muralitaran or a Kumara Sangakkara or Mahela Jayawardene or Ajantha Mendis they hoped to shift the focus on their condemnable deeds. Luckily for the cricketers, the terrorists failed miserably in their attempt and will now be cursing themselves for being 'big time' failures.

However, this incident should be an eye opener for future tours to the sub-continent, particularly Pakistan. Some might argue that India is a safe heaven but is it worth taking a chance especially after the alleged Pakistani terrorists penetrated the Indian coast guards to create a war-like situation in Mumbai not so long ago.

One really shudders to even think about the loss of life and sufferings if the lunatics (terrorists) succeed in blowing up a packed cricket stadium during a match (most Indian stadiums are packed). On this ground alone the Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI) should at least postpone the Indian Premier League indefinitely as nobody can guarantee the

safety of the players or the spectators or even the police themselves.

Also, after seeing the matches being played in a festival environment for the past 25 years or so, is it worth it to go to a stadium now where you are sure to be frisked ten times before you reach your seat and another ten times before you reach the car park.

Though the terrorists failed in their mission of destruction, they have sounded a warning for the things to come. For the time being they might have succeeded in generating a fear Psychosis in the minds of cricket loving public but one thing is certain, if the Governments and the respective boards approach the situation cautiously (wait and watch theory) and make sure adequate security is provided to the players and the public alike, the terrorists will never succeed in their mission.

We as responsible citizens should unite to fight these murderers not just in Pakistan but in every corners of this world. To show that we are not intimidated by these creeps, we should continue to host international events but tread cautiously and plan things (particularly security) carefully, unlike the security lapse we all saw on our television sets where the terrorists escaped with ease after committing the heinous crime.

The good always has to prevail over the evil!