Pakistan poser

Sri Lankan attack plunges tours into further doubt, says Fraser

Last updated: 3rd March 2009  

Pakistan poser

Fraser: life is more important

You question what it's all about really; you want to play cricket, you want to play sport but you don't want to put yourself, to use the phrase, in the firing line - as has been the case this morning.

Angus Fraser
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Angus Fraser believes the shooting of the Sri Lanka players has cast further doubts over Pakistan as a Test venue.

Five players were injured, Thilan Samaraweera, Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Thushara, when gunmen on rickshaws opened fire on the tourists' bus as it travelled to Lawrence Gardens in Lahore for the third day of the second Test.

Two players, including Samaraweera, who was shot in the thigh, have been treated in hospital.

Sri Lanka are only touring Pakistan as replacements for India, who pulled out of their proposed Test series amid security fears.

And Fraser, who has toured with England both as a player and a journalist, believes this incident could plunge any further tours into huge doubt.

"You are aware of a huge military presence everywhere, people do seem wary, do seem more on edge in Pakistan than obviously they do in Australia and the West Indies or places like that," he told Sky Sports News.

"And that is only going to continue for a considerable time after what's happened this morning.

"You question what it's all about really; you want to play cricket, you want to play sport but you don't want to put yourself, to use the phrase, in the firing line - as has been the case this morning."

Australia are the next side scheduled to tour Pakistan this summer.

But Fraser believes even if the authorities declare it a safe zone, cricket players around the world will think seriously about heading there after this.

"You take great pride in representing your country in international sport but there are more important things in life than scoring Test runs and taking Test wickets - despite what some people seem to think at times," he said.