By IRNA,
Islamabad : International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday condemned attack on players of Sri Lankan team in Pakistan and described the incident as very upsetting for the wider cricket family.
At least 5 policemen and two other people were killed and two cricket players of Sri Lanka were injured when unidentified gunmen threw explosives and opened fire at the players’ bus and their police guards in Lahore, the city police chief said.
“We note with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation,” Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat of the ICC in a statement.
“It is a source of great sadness that there have been a number of fatalities in this attack and it is also very upsetting for the wider cricket family that some of the Sri Lanka players and one match official have been injured in this attack. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the injured people and also the families of those who have died,” Lorgat said.
The Lankan team cancelled the visit and the players are returning home, officials of the Pakistan Cricket board said.
“I have confirmed with both Member Boards that the remainder of the tour has been cancelled and we are working hard to get our match officials out of the area as safely and as quickly as possible. I know, also, that the Pakistan Cricket Board is working with Sri Lanka Cricket to make sure the players are flown home at the earliest opportunity,” the ICC chief said
Until the full facts of the incident are established and the players and match officials have returned home safely, the ICC will make no further comment, he said.
Turkish and Australian Foreign Ministers called Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi to condemn the terrorist attack in Lahore today, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
The two foreign ministers conveyed his condolences at the tragic loss of lives in the incident.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the terrorists had no values and that they did not just target individuals but peace and stability of Pakistan, underlining that the Government of Pakistan should be fully supported by the international community in the fight against terrorism.
“The Turkish Foreign Minister also offered all kind of assistance to Pakistan in this regard”.
Foreign Minister Qureshi thanked Mr. Babacan for the condolences and for conveying full support to Pakistan on behalf of the Government and the people of the brotherly Republic of Turkey.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith also called Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi to condole with him personally and on behalf of the government and the people of Australia on the tragic loss of lives in the Lahore terrorist attack this morning.
The Australian Foreign Minister said that in this hour of grief, Australia stood shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan.
He said that Australia and Pakistan were close friends. He offered to send to Pakistan an Australian team to assist in the ongoing investigations into the terrorist attack. In this regard he mentioned that Australia has developed counterterrorism expertise including handling of forensic evidence and CCTV footage.
Foreign Minister Qureshi thanked the Australian Foreign Minister and briefed him in detail about the incident. He also informed him that Mr. Trevor Bayliss, Australian Coach was safe and would be leaving for Sri Lanka along with the Sri Lankan team, later this evening.
The Foreign Minister also informed his Australian counterpart that ICC Umpires Mr Stephen Davis and Mr. Simon Taufel had already left Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister also informed the Australian Foreign Minister that the Police’s response to the incident was swift and by laying down several lives they were able to protect the Sri Lankan team from any serious harm. He also informed him that the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister was scheduled to visit Pakistan on Wednesday as a Special Envoy of the Sri Lankan President.