Lorgat rubbishes Broad's conspiracy theory

09 March,2009 07:50 AM IST |   |  Khalid A-H Ansari

International Cricket Council (ICC) head honcho Haroon Lorgat is dismissive of match referee Chris Broad's conspiracy theory that the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus was intentionally delayed for seven minutes.


International Cricket Council (ICC) head honcho Haroon Lorgat is dismissive of match referee Chris Broad's conspiracy theory that the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus was intentionally delayed for seven minutes.

Lorgat said at a press conference here yesterday: "My first reaction is I do not believe that was part of a conspiracy. If that is indeed the case we are in for a very sad period. I think it is pure coincidence."

South African Lorgat also said Australian umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis need to be "more rational" about the Lahore terrorist attack.

Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera is taken aboard an ambulance after flying home from Pakistan where his team was ambushed by gunmen just before entering The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3. pic/AFP

The two umpires as also English match referee Chris Broad have all been highly critical of the Pakistani security forces, feeling they (the officials) were left for dead in the ambush by armed gunmen.


They said they felt deserted by the security escort as they were left stranded on the floor of their van with their driver shot dead and a colleague wounded while the Sri Lankan team bus ahead in their convoy drove away.

Lorgat said the officials needed time to "calm down and consider what had happened".

"I am mindful of the experience they have gone through and it is a difficult time for them," Lorgat said.

He said he was likely to call on Taufel, Davis and Broad to report on the incident at next month's ICC meeting.
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Thilan Samaraweera Haroon Lorgat Chris Broad Sri Lankan cricket team Terror Attack Simon Taufel