Slain Pakistani driver pays for love of cricket

Zafar Khan, who died in Tuesday's attack, was driving the umpires

Zafar Khan, who died in Tuesday's attack, was driving the umpires

Driver Zafar Khan was with the New Zealand cricket team in 2002 when a suicide bomber struck outside their hotel in Karachi.

goodbye, my friends: Pakistani police officers at a funeral for their colleagues killed in the attack against Sri Lankan players in Lahore on Tuesday. pic/ap

On Wednesday, Khan (40) was buried after being shot dead by gunmen who attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

A driver of 15 years and cricket crazy like many of his countrymen, Khan had expected to go home to his villageu00a0 to finalise the dates for his eldest daughter's wedding once the Lahore match was over.

Instead, his body was taken there, after prayers were offered for him and the six Pakistani policemen who also died in the bloody assault by a dozen unidentified gunmen.

Khan was killed instantly by a gunshot wound on his chest as his coach came under fire from terrorists 500 m from the Gaddafi stadium, where he was taking the umpires for the third day of a match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

"He loved cricket and was liked by visiting foreign players and officials," said Saleem, his brother. "He loved collecting souvenirs they gave him."

His uncle recalled his nephew's shock when a suicide bomb attack outside Karachi's Sheraton Hotel in May 2002 killed 13 people.

Shattered in 2002

Khan had been preparing to take the New Zealand team from the hotel to the National Stadium, but the New Zealanders abandoned the series and returned home the same day. "He was shattered then, but recovered quickly as he loved driving and cricket," said Anwar Khan.

While Khan was being buried, one of his passengers lay in a Lahore hospital on the critical list. Fourth umpire Ahsan Raza was also struck in the chest. He was kept alive by an artificial ventilator.

"Zafar was killed instantly as he was up front. A police commando took charge of the coach and drove us to the stadium," said Umpire Nadeem Ghouri.

Several detained
Police yesterday detained several suspects in the attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team, but said they had made no progress in tracking the group of gunmen that wounded seven players and killed six policemen guarding them.