A dozen masked gunmen armed with rifles and rocket launchers attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team as it traveled to a test match in Pakistan on Tuesday, wounding several players and killing five police officers, officials said.
The assailants ambushed the convoy at a traffic circle near the main sports stadium in the eastern city of Lahore ahead of day three of a test against Pakistan, triggering a 15-minute gunbattle between them and police guarding the vehicles. None of the attackers were killed or captured at the scene, city police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said.
Chamara Ranavira, a spokesman for the Sri Lankan High Commission, said two players - Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana - were being treated for injuries in hospital but were stable.
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The Sri Lankan Cricket Board said Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranka Lakmal, captain Mahela Jayawardene and Chaminda Vaas had minor injuries.
Ranavira said assistant coach Paul Frabrace also sustained minor injuries.
"We are communicating with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the high commission has taken action to send the cricket team back home as soon as possible," Ranavira said.
Sri Lanka Sports Minister said he spoke to team officials on the phone and: they are worried, very worried.
TV footage showed gunmen with backpacks firing at the convoy as they retreated from the scene, several damaged vehicles and a lone, unexploded grenade lying on the ground.
Authorities did not speculate on the identities of the attackers or their motives.
Pakistan is battling a ferocious insurgency by Islamist militants with links to al-Qaida who have staged high profile attacks on civilian targets before. Authorities will also be looking possible links to Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger separatist rebels who are being badly hit in a military offensive at home.
But Sri Lankan military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara says authorities there did not believe the group was responsible.
The high-profile attack took place three months after the Mumbai terror
attacks, which were allegedly carried out by Pakistan militants. In the past, the nuclear-armed rivals have blamed each other for attacks on their territories. Any allegations like that will trigger fresh tensions between the countries, which are already dangerously high. The Indian government refused permission for the national cricket team to tour Pakistan last month.
Veteran batsman Sangakkara told Sri Lankan radio station Yes-FM that all the players are completely out of danger.
"Luckily there's nothing serious and everyone is fine," he said.
Police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said five policemen died in the attack by 12 masked gunmen.
Authorities canceled the test match and the Lahore governor said the team was flying home. The governments of Sri Lanka and India condemned the attack, which will surely mean the end of international cricket in Pakistan for several years.
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa described the attack as cowardly and called for the players to return home immediately.
Even before, most teams refused to tour the country because of security
concerns. Sri Lanka agreed to this tour - allowing Pakistan to host its first test matches in 14 months - only after India and Australia postponed scheduled trips. It will also have implications on the game's future in South Asia, its most lucrative market.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said little could be done to stop such an attack.
"I think the Pakistani authorities have provided adequate security but as we know from experience ... there is never enough security to counter a well organized and determined terrorist group."
He said Sri Lanka would not rule out future tours to Pakistan.
Sri Lanka recognizes that the threat is always prevalent in the region and we cannot stop our normal lives because of the brutality of terrorists.
Steve Davis, an Australian who was umpiring the match, said: It is a terrible incident and I am lost for words.
Nadeem Ghauri, a Pakistani umpire who witnessed the attack, said they were behind the bus of the Sri Lankan players when suddenly they heard gunshots. Witnesses said the bus had at least 25 bullet holes in it.
The firing started at about 8:40 and it continued for 15 minutes, Ghauri said, adding our driver was hit, and he was injured.
A driver of one of the vehicles in the convoy taking the Sri Lankan players to the stadium told Pakistan's private Express news channel that he saw a man firing a rocket toward their van and then some one hurled a grenade, but the weapons missed their vehicle.
Most of the violence in Pakistan occurs in its northwest regions bordering Afghanistan, where Taliban and al-Qaida militants have established strongholds. Lahore has not been immune from militant violence, however, and several of its cultural arenas have been the focus of small explosions. At least one attack in recent months in the northwest has occurred next to a sports stadium.
In May 2002, a deadly suicide car bombing in the southern city of Karachi
damaged the Sheraton Hotel, where members of the New Zealand cricket team were staying. The players were unharmed but canceled their test match and left Pakistan within hours.
Australia postponed a scheduled tour in March due to security concerns and the Champions Trophy, the second biggest limited-overs tournament staged by the International Cricket Council, was postponed last September.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Australian cricket was shocked to hear of the attack.
Early reports are unclear but we are deeply saddened to hear reports that
security officials in Pakistan have been killed in this attack, he said. We will be seeking to talk to Sri Lankan and Pakistan cricket officials as soon as possible to pass on our condolences.
