Injured Pakistan umpire eyes return to game

Ahsan Raza, the umpire who was severely injured during the Lahore attack on March 3, is still in hospital but is making a slow recovery. He had undergone surgery to repair a collapsed right lung and a damaged liver after being shot when terrorists ambushed the Sri Lankan team bus and the van carrying the match officials to the Gaddafi Satdium.

"The doctors say it will take another 8-10 days to recover from the wounds," Raza told Associated Press from his hospital bed. He underwent two major operations and doctors needed 20 pints of blood to keep his blood pressure normal.

Raza, a former first-class wicketkeeper, is keen on returning to umpiring after recovering from his injuries. His brother, Ali, said: " [Ahsan] told me he wanted to be back on his feet and continue his umpiring career. Everyone is trying to motivate him and encourage him."

Raza, the fourth umpire for the ill-fated Lahore Test, was the most critically injured of the players and match officials in the terror strike. Ajantha Mendis and Thilan Samaraweera were among the Sri Lankan players with serious injuries; Mendis was released from hospital on Monday while Samaraweera, who had a bullet removed from his thigh, remains under observation in hospital.