Former Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody admits he has been left "shocked and saddened" by the gun attack in Lahore.
Former Sri Lanka boss left shocked at Lahore attacks
Former Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody admits he has been left "shocked and saddened" by the terrorist attack which has injured five of the national team outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Australian Moody, who coached the Sri Lankan national team from 2005 until just after the 2007 World Cup, was shaken by the news reports from Pakistan.
"I was very shocked and saddened to learn of the news coming from Lahore of the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus earlier today," Moody said in a statement.
"My thoughts and prayers are not only with my friends in the Sri Lankan cricket team, but with the families of everyone that has been killed or injured in today's attack."
Masked gunmen opened fire on the cricket team's bus, killing at least eight people and wounding five players, officials have confirmed.
Moody left Sri Lanka to become the coach of the Western Australian team in his home city of Perth.
Condolences
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has also spoke of his dismay upon hearing details of the attack.
"Australian cricket has many friends in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan and we sincerely hope they are all safe after this awful incident," Sutherland said.
"Early reports are unclear but we are deeply saddened to hear reports that security officials in Pakistan have been killed in this attack.
"We will be seeking to talk to Sri Lankan and Pakistan cricket officials as soon as possible to pass on our condolences."
Australia and Pakistan are due to play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 fixture in late April-May in the neutral venue of Dubai.
The Pakistan Cricket Board was forced to play the series at neutral venues after the Australian government refused permission for its team to tour Pakistan.
In March 2008, Australia refused to tour Pakistan over security fears. Both parties agreed to reschedule the tour into two visits, however - one-day matches in 2009 and Tests in 2010.
But security fears once again prompted the Australians to play matches at neutral venues meaning that the Baggy Greens have not toured Pakistan since 1998.
