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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 members of the Sri Lankan cricket team were injured - two from bullets - and five Pakistani policemen escorting the team bus were killed.

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

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the incident will come as a big blow to Pakistani cricket.

Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to tour after India's cricket team pulled out of a scheduled cricket tour following the deadly November attacks in the western Indian city of Mumbai.

Khaled Farooq, chief of police in Punjab province said the attack "resembles the Mumbai attacks" in November, AFP news agency reported.

Oh, I say.  That simply isn't cricket.

The 2011 Cricket World Cup is due to be played in Pakistan (with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).

I am being to wonder could it had been the same "gunners" as on the Mombia Hotel, for that hotel the England Cricket were due to stay in?

The 2011 Cricket World Cup is due to be played in Pakistan (with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).

It was already looking likely that they'd have to find another venue - I really can't see it happening there now, can you?

It was already looking likely that they'd have to find another venue - I really can't see it happening there now, can you?


Yes indeed, another venue will have to be found, but where is it safe today?

Yes indeed, another venue will have to be found, but where is it safe today?

Almost everywhere.  Even Pakistan is >99% safe.  It all depends on your perception of risk.

It all casts a shadow over the IPL Tournament in India next month, when best cricketers of the world are due to be playing in a Twenty20 competition. Curiously, the players there will be representating all the leading cricketing countries of the world except Pakistan.

But why would the killers want to get the Shri Lanka team?

But why would the killers want to get the Shri Lanka team?
That is the big question the press are trying to answer.

It all casts a shadow over the IPL Tournament in India next month, when best cricketers of the world are due to be playing in a Twenty20 competition. Curiously, the players there will be representating all the leading cricketing countries of the world except Pakistan.
Six days after the start of the IPL tournament, there will be General Election being held.

Oh, I say.  That simply isn't cricket.


Now hold your fire, guv, those are Sri Lankans, not Indians!
Well, it's as near as dammit!

:D

But why would the killers want to get the Shri Lanka team?

Trying to cut the length of their surnames down to size?

..but seriously, it may well be *because* the government promised the Sri Lanka team security, and there are factions in Pakistan out to destabilize the government so that they can step into the power vacuum caused when they lose all ability to govern.  A bit like the Taliban did in Afghanistan a decade or two ago and are trying to again now.  It's very easy to destabilize a country...

Yes indeed, another venue will have to be found, but where is it safe today?


Zimbabwe?

(Well, if your name's Mugabe, it is!)

Almost everywhere.  Even Pakistan is >99% safe.  It all depends on your perception of risk.


Uh...  I'd have to disagree.  Pakistan is very unstable.  Not quite Africa-style unstable, but close.

Sri Lanka's cricket team have arrived back in Colombo after leaving Pakistan following the attacks by gunmen.

Uh...  I'd have to disagree.  Pakistan is very unstable.  Not quite Africa-style unstable, but close.

>99% of people in Pakistan are at no risk whatsoever.  That's what I mean when I say "It all depends on your perception of risk."

I'd not disagree that Pakistan is unstable at the moment, there are parts of it that are not under government control at all.  It seems like they've ceded authority to the Islamists in places in a rather appeasing sort of manner... I'd bet that these people are behind this sort of shooting as a way of further destabilising things.

Chris Broad has angrily criticised security in Pakistan after being caught up in Tuesday's Lahore terror attack.

"I am extremely angry that we were promised high-level security and in our hour of need that security vanished," said the ICC official.

He said the officials were left like "sitting ducks" after the security forces ran for cover when the attack happened close to the Gaddafi Stadium. 

"I had an inkling before the Test match leg of the tour that something might happen," said Chris Broad

England's contingent of Indian Premier League players will receive further security advice before deciding whether to take part.

Chris Broad has angrily criticised security in Pakistan after being caught up in Tuesday's Lahore terror attack.

"I am extremely angry that we were promised high-level security and in our hour of need that security vanished," said the ICC official.

He said the officials were left like "sitting ducks" after the security forces ran for cover when the attack happened close to the Gaddafi Stadium. 


Gaddafi Stadium...? ??? Isn't that like...asking for trouble?


"I had an inkling before the Test match leg of the tour that something might happen," said Chris Broad


Well, d'oh! ::)



But seriously...

Yes indeed, another venue will have to be found, but where is it safe today?


I think you'll be safe here. 99.5% of our population don't even know cricket.  ;)


..but seriously, it may well be *because* the government promised the Sri Lanka team security, and there are factions in Pakistan out to destabilize the government so that they can step into the power vacuum caused when they lose all ability to govern.  A bit like the Taliban did in Afghanistan a decade or two ago and are trying to again now.  It's very easy to destabilize a country...


I don't think this was specifically aimed at Sri Lanka or the Sri Lankan cricketers. It could've been any sports team visiting Pakistan IMHO (but of course, there ain't that many visiting anymore...)

The Indian Premier League will go ahead as planned - despite the attack on Sri Lanka's team in Pakistan, insists IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

Modi admitted that schedule changes will be needed because of clashes with national election polling dates.

India's home minister Palaniappan Chidambara wanted the tournament be held after the general elections.

And Modi said: "I want to assure all our fans, sponsors and all stakeholders that the tournament is on."