Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara on Tuesday provided a backdrop to his last Test series before retirement, touching upon everything the game has offered him while turning him into a national hero and proud son of the country. And while Kumar recalled the highs and lows of his journey, it was hard for the man to ignore what was the "scariest" part of his 15-year glorious career - the 2009 Lahore attack.
When the three-match rubber marking Sangakkara's farewell opens in Galle on Wednesday, it will be rather emotional for a player who has seen the sport grow in the island nation while himself turning into a great ambassador for the game.
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However, like every player, Sangakkara too witnessed the rough side of life, be it the destructive Tsunami at home or the Lahore terror attack in 2009.
"I don't know whether I will term it [Lahore attack] as the lowest point [of my career] but it was one of the scariest points for sure. But I think, again, it was an experience, especially for the Sri Lankan cricket team. It kind of again put things in perspective...Cricket should be the safest environment for us and we get attacked. We had injuries and when I saw Thilan Samaraweera come back, a month and a half after being shot in the leg and running the risk of not being able to play again maybe even die, and score a Test hundred, that really brought home to us that being in a situation like that it is scary but the real point is to come out of it and come out of it strong.
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"That brought us close to a larger part of the Sri Lankan public, who had experienced that day in and day out in the north and the east and in other parts of Sri Lanka where bombs were going off, suicide bombers and all of that. So, I don't know whether it was the lowest point again, but it was an experience that has stood in extremely good stead. That has really kept us grounded," the batting icon said.
Will he want to see international cricket returning to Pakistan? Sanga left that for the stakeholders to decide.
"I can't vouch for anyone or anything. I think the Pakistani public are wonderful cricket fans, they have always been [like that], have welcomed us with open arms. They love the way we play, they support Sri Lanka very, very strongly. For the Pakistan cricket team, to see that talent and ability and not have them being able to play in their own country is sad.
"But that is not for me to say it is safe or unsafe; it is a matter for the home board, it is a matter for the security arms that are concerned, it is for individual countries to decide," the left-hander said.
Sangakkara still feels the pain his country suffered due to the Tsunami in 2004, at which time he was travelling with the national team for a series in New Zealand.
"I think that was an unbelievable tragedy that struck the country," Kumar said. "We were in New Zealand when it happened and to see the pictures on TV and then to come back here and see the devastation, it was completely saddening. The Galle stadium was completely swept away by the Tsunami.
"To see the stadium being rebuilt and the country emerge from that tragedy is simply incredible. It just goes to show that we are quite resilient people. Life is filled with good times and bad times and I think the Sri Lankan people are capable of recovering from anything," he added.
Returning to the current India Test series beginning Wednesday, Sangakkara was asked why he decided to skip a Test each in the Pakistan series, who toured Sri Lanka just before India, and this series.
The veteran said he contemplated retiring after the World Cup in March, but the selectors persuaded him to play Test cricket for some more time.
"I had plans to retire after the [2015] World Cup but Sri Lanka Cricket wanted me to play some more Test cricket," said an emotional Sangakkara.
"This [two Tests each against Pakistan and India] was all I could offer them. They were okay with that and I said [in case] they were not, to tell me, that would be fine. And that I can then retire after the World Cup. That's why it's a two and two split," he explained.
Cricket fans may remember him for the swagger he displayed in his style of play and for his impeccable service to Sri Lankan cricket but Sangakkara said how you are remembered after your retirement may vary.
"I think the first time I went to South Africa and scored 98 was when I thought I could play Test cricket," he said.
Everyone remembers you differently. When you play, you see yourself in one way. When you retire, you see yourself as slightly better than what you actually were. That's the way cricketers are. But I just want to be remembered as who I was, how I played and how I interacted with the team in the dressing room, the experiences we have shared together, the wins, the losses, everything," he told reporters.
Sangakkara added depth to the Lankan side when the then-22-year-old law student made his debut for the national side in 2000 as a wicketkeeper-batsman. And just as he improved his skills behind the wicket, his batting also matured with the drives and lofted shots coming more regularly.
When asked to reveal his favourite performances, Sangakkara said: "Win against England was my best overseas tour ever....Beating Australia in the ODI series in Australia in 2010 is memorable as well.
"I am proud of all my personal innings, without a doubt, all the hundreds. People ask me about statistics and I always say the only thing I really know for sure is the amount of Test hundreds I have scored. Whatever format you might play, at the end of the day, it is your Test capabilities that allow you to make a mark. I have enjoyed all of those.
"Scoring my first Test hundred here [in Galle] against India, again batting with Murali as the last man, that was very, very special. My hundred at Lord's, my hundred in Australia, they have all been very special to me," he said.
The 37-year-old Sangakkara, whose 12,305 runs make him Test cricket's leading scorer among those still playing, is rated among the best of his era across all formats of the game.
He announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals last year after smashing a 35-ball 52 not out to guide Sri Lanka past India in the World T20 final, and then struck a record four consecutive centuries in this year's World Cup.
While many may feel there is still plenty of cricket left in him, Sangakkara is in no mood to continued anymore.
The quickest batsman to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000 and 12,000 runs, Sangakkara has slammed 38 Test centuries. He also has 11 double-centuries, only one short of Sir Donald Bradman's record of 12. His only triple century (319) came against Bangladesh in 2014.
When asked if it has sunk in yet that he is left with only 10 days of his international career on the field, Sangakkara said while it is a touch frustrating, he has already experienced that having quit limited-overs cricket.
"When you are sitting in England and watch your team play the ODI and T20 series (against Pakistan), you definitely feel like a former cricketer. You feel you're involved but at the same time you are not there. It can be frustrating at times but it's something that I've got to get used to.
"But it's great nowadays that even after you say goodbye to international cricket, you can still play some cricket around. It's not like you have to wind down permanently," he said with a promise to suggest that he will be around.
Source: http://www.ibnlive.com/cricketnext/news/lahore-attack-was-the-scariest-part-of-my-career-kumar-sangakkara-549243-78.html
