An attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team occurred in 2009, when a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, part of a larger convoy, was fired upon by 12 gunmen, near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. The cricketers were on their way to play the third day of the second Test against the Pakistani cricket team. Six members of the Sri Lanka national cricket team were injured. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed.

Meher Muhammad Khaleel was the hero in that attack. When bullets were being fired at the Sri Lankan team bus during their 2009 tour of Pakistan, Khaleel was driving them to the stadium. His bravery and quick thinking not only saved the Lankan players but also earned him the reputation of a savior in the two countries.

Following all the appreciation and rewards the brave act earned him, Khaleel spent time doing businesses in Morocco and South Africa before returning to Pakistan. And it was during a visit to South Africa that he met former India captain MS Dhoni, who was impressed with his bravery.

"I saw MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina at that time (in South Africa). Raina spoke very warmly and Dhoni said, ‘you are so brave, you saved them,’ and I told him, ‘mere bhi bhai hain voh Sri Lankans, ek bhai ke liye jaan dene ko taiyaar hai' (they are my brothers as well, I can give my life to save them),” he told The Indian Express in an interview.

Khaleel, the newspaper report stated, has seen terror from up close as his brother was part of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahedeen. He died in Kashmir. 

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“Un dinon mujhahideen bolte the, aaj kal toh terrorist hi bolte hain. One thing I know for sure is all this violence is not going to take one anywhere. What our region needs is peace,” he said.

Khaleel also urged India to come and play cricket in Pakistan.

"All I want is for India to come and play in Pakistan. Pura Lahore khada ho jayega kyunki apna bhai aaya hai ghar mey khelne key liye (entire Lahore will stand up in support of their brothers)," he said.

When in 2015 Zimbabwe become the first team to tour Pakistan after that attack in 2009 and it was Khaleel drove their bus. When the World XI was in Pakistan earlier this year, Khaleel drove them as well. 

He is now waiting for the Sri Lankans to return to Lahore after they agreed to play the third T20 international of the Pakistan tour.