Sri Lanka Cricket Team Members Injured in Lahore Firing: An official says eight members of Sri Lanka's national cricket team have been wounded after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Lahore, Pakistan, AP reports.
Pakistan Cricket Board security official Nadeem Iqbal says the team members were injured near the Gaddafi stadium where they were due to arrive to play in the second test against Pakistan. Sri Lankan team manager, Brendon Kruppu, confirmed the incident and said the team's players, Kumar Sangakkara and Ajantha Mendis, are among the injured.
"We are assessing the situation," Pakistan cricket board chief Ejaz Butt said.
In Sri Lanka, sports minister Gamini Lokuge said two other players, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, had been taken to hospital in Lahore, AFP reports. Unidentified gunmen attacked the bus taking the Sri Lankan cricket squad and its police escort to a cricket stadium in Lahore, according to witnesses and cricket officials. Five policemen have also been killed as the police van escorting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore was fired upon, confirms the police chief in Lahore.
The attack was likely the work of "well-trained terrorists," its police chief said, according to AFP. The Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan stands cancelled. Security concerns have plagued Pakistan for years and some foreign sports teams have refused to play here.
How It Happened
As per initial reports the attack happened outside the Gaddafi stadium when the team was passing through the Liberty roundabout. A group of gunmen (Reportedly 12 in number), armed with automatic weapons, were waiting there in a white car, then resorted to indiscriminate firing at the convoy and even fired rocket launchers.
Seven policemen have lost their lives while two other are reportedly injured. Some of the slain policemen have been identified: Zafar Khan, Mudassar, Tipu Sultan and Tanvir Ahmed.
Tour Cancelled
The Sri Lankan cricket board has cancelled the tour with immediate effect while the encounter with the unidentified gunmen is still going on.
