Lankan's Hero: Pakistani bus driver Mohammed Khalil visiting Sri Lanka (Snaps)

[LahoreEstate]

Sri Lanka's cricketers and officials have honored a Pakistani bus driver who risked his life to get the team to safety amid a deadly terror attack in Lahore, Pakistan last month. Sri Lanka showered cash and hugs on the Pakistani bus driver who drove the island's cricket team to safety following a gun and grenade attack.



Pakistan bus driver Mohammed Khalil ® and his wife Nazia walk with officials as they arrive for a felicitation ceremony at The Sri Lankan Cricket office in Colombo on April 6, 2009. Driver Meher Mohammed Khalil emerged a hero after he drove the team to a cricket grounds in Lahore on March 3, despite a hail of bullets and a grenade blast that wounded seven players and their British coach. -AFP



Sri Lanka showered cash and hugs on the Pakistani bus driver who drove the island's cricket team to safety following a gun and grenade attack in Lahore. -AFP



Mohammed Khalil gives a present to Sri Lankan former cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene © as captain Kumar Sangakkara ® looks on during a ceremony at the Sri Lankan cricket office in Colombo, April 6, 2009. -Reuters



Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara ® shake hands with Pakistani bus driver Mohammed Khalil next to former cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene © during a ceremony at the Sri Lankan cricket office in Colombo. -Reuters



Mohammed Khalil, facing camera, hugs Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara. ‘We are here to thank one unarmed man for his courage, selflessness and quick thinking that enabled many of us to see another day. We will always have a special place for you in our hearts,’ said Kumar Sangakkara, who sustained minor injuries in the attack. -AP



Meher Mohammed Khalil (2R) shakes hands with Sri Lankan cricketer Thilan Samaraweera (L). Samaraweera, who had a bullet removed from his left leg, was discharged from a Colombo hospital last Tuesday - two weeks after the attack. Cricket, he says, remains his first priority and he is even open to playing in Pakistan again. -AFP



Meher Mohammed Khalil (L) shakes hands with Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya ® during a felicitation ceremony at The Sri Lankan Cricket office in Colombo. -AF



Sri Lanka's former cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene ® shake hands with bus driver Mohammed Khalil.



Sri Lankan Sport Minister Gamini Lokuge (2L) and Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara ®, cricketer Mahela Jayawardene (2R) and officials hand over a cheque to Pakistan bus driver Mohammed Khalil (L) during a felicitation ceremony. Khalil has been rewarde with 21,800 dollars and numerous gifts and an all-expenses paid eight-day trip to Sri Lanka -AFP



Sri Lankan cricket official Nishantha Ranatunge, left, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge, center, Sri Lankan cricket Board President Somachandra De Silva, and former Sri Lankan cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene, right, pose for photographs as they present a cash prize to Pakistani bus driver Mohammed Khalil, second left



Director of Sri Lanka's most influential publishing house, the Associated Newspapers Group (ANCL), Shan Shanmuganathan (L) holds a momento with Pakistani coach driver, Meher Mohammed Khalil during a felicitation ceremony at the newspaper office in Colombo on April 6, 2009.



Pakistani bus driver Mohammed Khalil (L) speaks to the media as Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge looks on during an honour ceremony at the Sri Lankan cricket office in Colombo. 'By God's help I did not feel scared at all and never thought of jumping out of the bus to save myself,’ Khalil said through a translator.He thanked the Sri Lankan cricketers who went to Pakistan when most of the top teams refused to tour the country because of security concerns. ‘We are proud that we are even ready to sacrifice our lives to save our friends,’ he said

WE PROUD OF YOU SIR MOHAMMED KHALIL : PAKISTANI