By IANS,
Sydney : Recalling the horrifying experience in Lahore, Australian cricket umpire Simon Taufel has said that he and his colleagues were left “helpless” as terrorists rained bullets on their van in Pakistan.
The 38-year-old Taufel and his compatriot Steve Davis, survived an ambush on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the umpires’ convoy in Lahore Tuesday that claimed eight Pakistani lives and injured several including Sri Lankan cricketers.
“You tell me why supposedly 25 armed commandos were in our convoy and when the team bus got going again we were left on our own,” Taufel was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Obviously they’ll investigate those issues. What I can tell you is that we were isolated, we were left alone, we were unaccounted for, we were not given the same security and the same attention as the playing staff were,” he added.
“I’m angry that when we were in our hour of need then we were left on our own. I’m angry that the team bus got to the ground and no one came back for us. That’s the fact, that’s the reality. Who’s to blame and who’s at fault I don’t know,” said Taufel.
Taufel was reunited at the Sydney airport with his wife, Helen, and two sons, Harry and Jack, before telling reporters he did not know why he was still alive.
“I can’t explain why I’m here. There is no reason for us (the umpires and other staff) to still be here,” he said.