The militant behind the attack on the Sri Lankan team killed by U.S. drone airstrike in Afghanistan

March 3rd, 2009 was a black day in the history of cricket when a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore was attacked by 12 gunmen. The players were on their way to the stadium to play the second Test against Pakistan but were shell-shocked by the assault. Six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured and six Pakistani policemen and 2 civilians were killed in the inhuman act.

It has been reported that the militant behind the attack was killed by a U.S. drone airstrike in Afghanistan, according to Pakistani security sources and Islamist militants.

Pakistani intelligence sources said, “The U.S. unmanned aircraft struck a car carrying Qari Mohammad Yasin, also known as Ustad Aslam, on Sunday in the southwestern Afghan province of Paktika bordering Pakistan”.

Yasin, specialized in training suicided bombers was killed along with three other militants. U.S. military officials in Afghanistan made no immediate comments on the incident.

There was a reward on Yasin of 2 million rupees ($19,000) by Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department because of his involvement in the bus attack, allegedly organized by militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Ali bin Sufyan, spokesman for a Lashkar-e-Jhangvi offshoot, Al Alami confirmed the death of Yasin. The group had carried out a bomb attack against Pakistan’s military in the southwestern province of Baluchistan as revenge, he said but did not provide further details.

Three other militants involved in the attack were killed by Pakistan police last year too.

The bus attack in 2009 was a shameful act that has led to literally the demise of Pakistan’s home cricket. No side wants to tour the country ever since and there has hardly been any overseas team that played cricket in Pakistan. They are forced to host the foreign countries in Dubai to play their home matches.