Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace hope Pakistan can regularly host international cricket again, 10 years after the pair came under fire during a deadly attack in Lahore that left the country a no-go zone for sporting teams.
It was on March 3, 2009 that Sri Lanka's team bus, taking the team to the Gaddafi Stadium for a Test against Pakistan, was hit by bullets and grenades in an attack by armed militants.
Eight police and bystanders were killed, with six others wounded in the incident.
England coach Bayliss and assistant Farbrace were both carrying out similar roles with Sri Lanka at the time.
"I was cleaning my sunglasses, and the next thing, the bus jolted," Farbrace, who saw a piece of shrapnel draw blood when it struck his arm, told a BBC Test Match Special podcast marking the 10-year anniversary of the attack.
"I just turned and looked over my shoulder, looked out the window -- I could see this guy moving towards us with a gun, firing this gun."
It was six years until an international team visited again, with Pakistan forced to play the majority of their home games in the United Arab Emirates -- a situation that continues to this day.
Minnows Zimbabwe were the first to venture into Pakistan after the attack, playing two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in 2015.
Under heavy security, Sri Lanka made an emotional return to the Gaddafi Stadium for a one-off Twenty20 international in October 2017. The West Indies also played three Twenty20 internationals in Karachi last May.
- No place like home -
"I honestly hope -- I've always hoped -- that international cricket will return to Pakistan," said Farbrace.
"It's a tough place to play cricket, but it's an unbelievably passionate country for the game of cricket.
"The sadness for me is that you've got players now playing international cricket for Pakistan -- there will be players that have played their entire career, international cricket for Pakistan -- and never played a game in their own country.
"For me there's almost a bit of unfinished business, and for me to go back there, and see international cricket played in Lahore -- for the people that lost their lives, I think that would be, for them, to show that terrorism hasn't stopped the game of cricket going ahead."
Bayliss, who said Pakistan cricket fans were "some of the best in the world", endorsed former Kent and Middlesex wicketkeeper Farbrace's comments.
"Hopefully cricket does get back there," Bayliss said.
As for his own memory of the attack, Bayliss said: "It was very calm. The only thing that was being said was on the bus, and no louder than this, was 'oh, I'm hit', 'oh, so am I', as the bullets were flying through and a bit of shrapnel.
"The calmness was the thing that stood out for me."
Users can now restrict AI-generated visuals across select categories.
Pinterest will make “AI-modified” content labels more visible.
The update aims to restore trust amid growing user backlash.
Pinterest responds to complaints over AI-generated ‘slop’
Pinterest has rolled out new controls allowing users to reduce the amount of AI-generated content in their feeds, following widespread criticism over an influx of synthetic images across the platform.
The company confirmed on Thursday that users can now personalise their experience by limiting generative imagery within specific categories such as beauty, art, fashion, and home décor. The move comes as many long-time users voiced frustration that their feeds were increasingly dominated by low-quality AI visuals, often referred to online as “AI slop.”
Pinterest, which serves as a hub for creative inspiration and shopping ideas, has faced growing scrutiny from both users and media outlets questioning whether its algorithmic changes have diluted the quality and authenticity of its content.
New personalisation settings and clearer labels
The new controls can be found under the “Refine your recommendations” section in the app’s Settings menu. Users will be able to opt for reduced exposure to AI-generated posts in certain categories, with more options expected to be added later based on feedback.
In addition, Pinterest said it will make its existing “AI-modified” labels more prominent. These labels appear on posts identified through image metadata or Pinterest’s detection systems as being partially or fully AI-generated.
The platform is also encouraging user feedback. When users encounter Pins they find less appealing due to synthetic imagery, they can use the three-dot menu to flag them and adjust their preferences accordingly.
The update has started rolling out across Pinterest’s website and Android app, with iOS support to follow in the coming weeks.
Balancing creativity with user trust
Matt Madrigal, Pinterest’s Chief Technology Officer, said the company’s focus remains on maintaining an authentic, inspiring experience for its community.
“With our new GenAI controls, we’re empowering people to personalise their Pinterest experience more than ever, striking the right balance between human creativity and innovation,” Madrigal said.
Pinterest’s move comes as research cited by the company suggests that AI-generated visuals now account for more than half of all online content. By giving users direct control over how much of that material they see, Pinterest hopes to preserve its reputation as a platform driven by genuine creativity rather than automated output.
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