Abu Dhabi: Umpire Ahsan Raza, who had been critically injured during the March 3 Lahore attack on the Sri Lanka team, returned to international cricket in the one-dayer here Monday.

“I am thrilled and excited,” Raza said. “Today I am alive and making a return to international cricket is very sensational for me… Makes my belief in the Almighty stronger.”

The 35-year-old, the reserve umpire for the match, had to undergo surgery to repair a collapsed right lung and a damaged liver after being shot by the terrorists.

The team bus and the van of the officials — match umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis of Australia, television umpire Nadeem Ghouri, reserve umpire Raza (both from Pakistan) and match-referee Chris Broad (England) — were ambushed on their way to the Gaddafi. (AFP)