Six Lankan players confirmed injured in Lahore attack

In a shocking incident, the Sri Lankan cricket team which is in Lahore to play the second Test was attacked upon by a gang of gunmen early on Tuesday, injuring at least six players.

The Sri Lankan Sports Minister has confirmed to the reporters that six of the players were injured and taken to hospital. Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar SangakkaraKumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis have been injured in the firing. Team’s captain Mahela JayawardeneMahela Jayawardene is also reported to be injured.

The Sri Lankan cricket board has cancelled the tour with immediate effect while the encounter with the unidentified gunmen is still going on.

As per initial reports the attack happened outside the Gaddafi stadium when the team was passing through the Liberty roundabout. A group of gunmen, who were apparently waiting there in a white car, resorted to indiscriminate firing at the convoy and even fired rocket launchers.

Seven policemen have lost their lives while two others are reportedly injured.

In the meanwhile, the Pakistan police were releasing the sketches of the assailants and it has been confirmed that they had automatic weapons.

The authorities are suspecting it as a handiwork of one Pakistan’s many active terror groups. Incidentally, media reports claimed that the police knew of a plan to attack the team and hence the route taken by the convoy today was kept a secret but it seems that the terrorists had better information.

A witness told reporters he believed two police commandos were killed along with a regular policeman and a traffic warden. Shopkeeper Ahmed AliAhmed Ali said the two police commandos had been driving behind the team bus when they were hit.

"It was a very heavy firing and I heard at least two explosions at the time," said a witness who had been on his way to cover the test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan only invited the Sri Lanka team to tour after India's team pulled out with security concerns following the militant attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November.