Pakistan cricketers shattered after terror attack on children

Karachi, Dec 17: Former Pakistan captain and senior batsman Younis Khan feels playing the fourth ODI against New Zealand today would be very difficult as the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar had left the players shattered.

"When the Australian batsman, Phil Hughes died recently it touched us all and one day's play in a Test match against New Zealand was postponed as a mark of respect. You can imagine what this terrorist attack must have done to us today," Younis said.

"It is a national tragedy and a barbaric act and honestly playing the match is going to be very difficult," he said on Geo Super channel.

Younis hails from Mardan which is in the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province where the attack took place yesterday. Younis said he was very disturbed by what had happened.

"Every player in the team is very disturbed and shattered over the killing of innocent children but for me it is my home province and these children are like my own children. It is heart breaking," he said.

Nearly 141 people including 132 children were killed in the attack which led to a military operation to kill the terrorists and clear the school.

"I don't know what the Pakistan board does but the players would be relieved if this match was postponed because it is difficult to play a match when your spirit is not there in the game. That is our state of mind right now," Younis said.

Pakistan team manager Moin Khan said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had decided to observe a minute's silence before the match and all the players would wore black bands in the game.

PTI