You are so Brave, You saved them were the words of MS Dhoni.

Muhammad Khaleel, bus driver who ducked terror, warmly awaits Sri Lankan cricket team for the 3rd T20I match; says India should come and play.

Meher Muhammad Khaleel was an unknown name in 2009. A terror attack in Lahore changed it all. 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 saviour in the two countries. He received praises from everyone for his brave act which saved many lives. Khalil in 2015 was given the honour of driving Zimbabwe team bus to venue as it became the first team after the 2009 attack to travel to Pakistan. Recently, World XI team backed by ICC was in Pakistan and Khalil drove them as well. The ‘famous’ bus driver is now awaiting SriLankan team to return to Lahore. Sri Lanka is scheduled to play third and final T20I in Lahore thus marking their return to the country for the first time since the attack. And Khalil is expected to drive the bus once again. Muhammad Khaleel, bus driver who ducked terror, warmly awaits Sri Lankan cricket team for the 3rd T20I match; says India should come and play. I will be driving them again to the stadium. Tell them not to worry. The situation in Pakistan has changed a lot. Unko watan ki khushboo aayegi — come and play here, Sri Lanka.

In an interview to Indian Express, Khaleel revealed that he had met Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni for a brief period in South Africa and both had praised him for saving the lives of the cricketers. “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 said.