Pakistani bus driver hailed a hero after attack

LAHORE (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's cricketers have Mehar Mohammad Khalil's quick wits to thank for their lives after the bus driver steered them to safety when coming under gunfire Tuesday.

The diminutive Khalil drove the team to the safety of the Gaddafi stadium after it was attacked by around a dozen unidentified gunmen as they approached the venue for the second test match against Pakistan.

"I was turning the bus toward the stadium near the main roundabout when I saw a rocket fired at us ... it missed us and hit an electric pole after which all hell broke loose," Khalil told Reuters as he stood by the shattered bus.

The bullet-holed bus strongly suggested the target of the gunmen had been Sri Lanka's players.

Five policemen and the driver of a bus following behind, carrying the Australian umpires, were killed.

"When the firing started one of the players shouted 'go, go' and somehow I kept my cool, ducked and pressed the accelerator and sped the bus toward the stadium," Khalil said.

BULLET SHOTS

The bus was attacked around 500 meters from the stadium with bullet shots sprayed on all four sides.

"They were skilled and they knew what they wanted. God helped us because they also threw a grenade under the bus which exploded after the bus had passed over it," he said.

"The players saved themselves by lying on the floor as the firing was heavy from both sides," Khalil said.

Khalil, a professional driver for 22 years, has worked for many other visiting teams and said there would normally be a police presence in front of the vehicle and elite commandos behind to provide security.

"I salute the elite commandos who kept the attackers engaged while I was able to speed the bus away," he said.

"I feel very sad today."

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said in a statement: "We owe the bus driver our lives for his remarkable bravery in the face of direct gunfire.

"Had he not had the courage and presence of mind to get the bus moving after the initial attack then we'd have been a far easier target for the terrorists."

(Editing by Ossian Shine and Tony Jimenez)