Lahore: Just days after Sri Lankan cricket team manager dispelled the impression that his team demanded extra security for playing a test match in Lahore, Pakistan, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team as they were on their way to Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Tuesday morning, Dawn news channel reported. The Sri Lankan team, which was on their tour to Pakistan, has cancelled the tour.

In the firing that took place around Liberty Market near Gaddafi stadium in Lahore, five policemen are reported dead, while three are seriously injured and have been rushed to the hospital. Seven players have been reportedly injured. Samaraweera, Sangakara, Mendis, Thushara, Paranavithana are some of the injured Lankan players.

The entire area around Liberty market has been cordoned off. A police official said that 12 terrorists carried out the attack and the exchange of fire lasted for about 25 minutes. "The attackers had come by rickshaws," he said.

The attackers were armed with rocket launchers and hand grenades. He said that one Sri Lankan team member was hit on the chest while another was hit on the leg.Six of our players were wounded during the shooting incident targeting the Test team travelling to the match venue at Lahore. We are very concerned about this incident," Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said in Colombo.

Three days back, Sri Lankan team manager Brenden Kurrupu had told APP that the team management was satisfied with the security provided to them at Karachi during the first test and they are of the view that similar arrangements will be made at Lahore during the second test.