Samaraweera undergoes counselling

Thilan Samaraweera is undergoing counselling to deal with the trauma of nearly losing his life in the attack in Pakistan.

Sydney, March 19: Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Samaraweera is undergoing counselling to deal with the trauma of nearly losing his life in the attack, which rocked the cricket world to its core.

Samaraweera says his career is far from over and has not ruled out the possibility of returning to play in Pakistan, where he and teammates came under fire two weeks ago in the first terrorist attack against a cricket team. Samaraweera, who had a bullet removed from his left leg, was discharged from a Colombo hospital on Wednesday, an Australian daily reported. “I have decided that I have to take positive thinking, rather than keep worrying about what happened and replaying this incident. I have to move forward. It is good to be home. I was in the hospital, and I had trouble in my mind. Everyone was asking me about how it was on the bus, wanting to know what it was like, every half an hour,” Samaraweera said.“I have been getting psychological counselling. It helps. Other players are also getting counselling too. They need it. I am home now with my family and the atmosphere is much better and the environment is changed. I have to move forward. There is no point thinking this and that - as a cricketer and as a person.” Samaraweera was the only player shot by the terrorists, who ambushed the team bus as it drove towards the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the start of day three of the second Test, while many of his teammates were injured by shrapnel as bullets, rockets and grenades were fired at the vehicle. “In that five minutes in the bus, I knew it was a life-threatening situation, but it was when I was in hospital after seven hours, I switched on the news and was watching the coverage, and I realised how serious it was and how lucky we were,” he said. Samaraweera could return to the field as early as June as he looks to add to his 49 Tests. Asked if he would ever return to Pakistan, he replied: “It all depends on the situation. Our board must believe that we will all be safe. I can’t say I’m not going there.” ANI