Sri Lankan cricket players wounded in attack in Pakistan

In this frame taken from television unidentified gunmen fire their weapons during an attack on a vehicle carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. At least three players in the Sri Lankan cricket team were hurt in a gun attack while being driven to the Lahore cricket stadium in Pakistan, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said. Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera were taken to hospital after the shooting, Lokuge said. Sri Lankan skipper Mah

Published Tuesday, March 03, 2009

By Agencies

Officials say gunmen in Pakistan opened fire on a vehicle carrying members of Sri Lanka's national cricket team, wounding at least eight members and killing five police officers.

The attack in Lahore came at a time of unrest in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, both of whom are trying to defeat insurgencies. It was unclear who was behind the assault, however, but it appeared to have been carefully coordinated.

Pakistan Cricket Board security official Nadeem Iqbal said eight members of the Sri Lankan team were injured near Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. City police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said five policemen died in the shooting. Security concerns have plagued Pakistan for years and some foreign sports teams have refused to play here.

"We are assessing the situation," Pakistan cricket board chief Ejaz Butt said. In Sri Lanka, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said two players, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, had been taken to hospital in the city.

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