Simon Taufel recalled the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lanka team’s bus in Lahore which not only changed his life but also the lives of many others. That also caused their cricket out of the nation. However, he said officiating in cities like Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Islamabad and Peshawar all have their challenges but he found memories to cherish.
Eight persons were killed and over 20 others, including several Sri Lankan players, were injured in that incident near the Gaddafi Stadium on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan on March 3, 2009. Sri Lankan players Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Suranga Lakmal and Thilina Thushara were injured in that terrorist attack. Simon Taufel was one of the umpires of the team, with fellow members Steve Davis (on-field umpire), Chris Broad (ICC match referee), Nadeem Ghauri (third umpire), and Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire).
“The first Test in Karachi came and went without incident, but as we were finishing it, there were murmurs about possible issues in Lahore, and there were talks of holding the next Test match in Karachi,” he writes in his book.
But the decision was already taken to play the next match in Lahore. Although the match began and the first two days saw some political disturbance and Sri Lanka put up a massive total of over 600 runs. Day three saw some change as well.
“Just like every other day, I followed my usual routine, but reached downstairs at the hotel lobby a little earlier at 8.15 a.m.,” he says.
Read here: Sanjay Manjrekar Says “Love My Job”, Fans Troll Him On Twitter
However, Taufel is a little superstitious and sits in the same spot in the van but that day, for some reason, he did not sit there and chose to sit towards the back with Peter Manuel, who was the ICC regional umpire manager also.
“There were loud explosions all around – the gunfire was getting stronger, our van was being hit in the front and on the side where I was sitting,” he says.
In the attack, fourth umpire Raza had suffered severe wounds. Simon Taufel then realised that Raza was there in his seat he usually takes but didn’t take at that day.
“Had he (arrived) at the van earlier than me, my fate would have been different – fighting for my life with bullet injuries to my lungs and spleen,” he writes.
Taufel is a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year and has featured in ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, till he retired in 2012. After that, he took over as ICC’s Umpire Performance and Training Manager and remained in this role till September 2016.
