Gunmen shoot Sri Lankan cricketers

Montse · March 3, 2009

Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

At least five Pakistani policemen escorting the team bus were killed, while at least five cricketers, and their assistant coach, were injured.

Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.

Officials said the incident bore the hallmarks of deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November.

The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.

The BBC's Barbara Plett says the incident will come as a big blow to Pakistani cricket - already suffering from serious security concerns - and may put an end to international cricket in the country in the short term.

Pakistan had invited Sri Lanka to tour after India's cricket team pulled out of a scheduled cricket tour on security grounds, following the Mumbai attacks.

Evacuation

Reports suggest 10 to 12 gunmen ambushed the team coach and its accompanying police detail on a roundabout in the heart of Lahore, as the convoy was on the way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match.

Our Islamabad correspondent says accounts suggest the attack was sophisticated in nature, with one group of gunmen firing a rocket-propelled grenade in order to create a diversion, while others then approached, firing guns on the convoy.

She says the gunmen - two of which were shown in TV pictures carrying backpacks - seemed to be well-trained.

At least five policemen were killed.

Officials in Lahore said two members of the Sri Lankan team - Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana - were sent to hospital. At least another four received minor wounds, including assistant coach Paul Farbrace.

"The players are shocked. They have never gone through anything like this before," former Sri Lankan player Sanath Jayasuriya told an Indian news channel on the phone from Colombo.

There are no reports that any of the attackers were killed or apprehended. Grenades and rocket launchers were found at the site of the incident, police said.

Thilan Samaraweera (L) and Tharanga Paranavitana went to hospital

A Pakistani air force helicopter has now evacuated uninjured members of the Sri Lankan team from Gaddafi Stadium, after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the "cowardly terrorist attack" and ordered the players' evacuation.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also strongly condemned the attack, and ordered an immediate investigation "so that the perpetrators are identified and their motives exposed", said a statement from his office.

The third day of play in the Second Test was scheduled to begin, but officials said the match has now been cancelled.

Security fears

Pakistan is engaged in a bloody struggle against Islamist insurgents who have staged high-profile attacks on civilian targets before.

India and Australia have pulled out of cricket tours in Pakistan in the recent past citing security concerns.

The sport's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, last month decided not to hold the 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan due to safety worries.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is also waging its own military campaign at home, against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels.

ere

Bloody hell!

Pakistan will not be a popular place to play to say the least

Ben 23 · March 3, 2009