Butt fears bleak future

Ijaz Butt says Tuesday's terror attack has "earned Pakistan a bad name"

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has admitted the immediate future of international cricket in the country is bleak in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore.

Seven Sri Lanka cricketers and a coach were injured when heavily-armed gunmen attacked the team convoy while it was on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day's play in the second Test against Pakistan.

Six policemen and two civilians were also killed in the attack.

Pakistan has been starved of international cricket as most teams have refused to travel there due to security fears and Butt now recognises the country will be further isolated following the Lahore attack.

"How can we force them to play in Pakistan if the security situation doesn't improve?" Butt asked.

"It has earned Pakistan a bad name in the international community. It was the most unfortunate thing that could have happened. These incidents are out of our control and it could have happened anywhere in the world.”

Butt said he hoped to convince teams to tour Pakistan again in the future.

"Security is the sole responsibility of the government," he said. "We can only assure teams the same security which was provided for the Sri Lankans in the first Test in Karachi.

"That Test concluded without incident. But we cannot blame teams if they do not travel to Pakistan.”

Butt saluted the Sri Lanka players for their courage and spirit.

"Hats off to every Sri Lankan player," he said. "Not a single player or team official complained in spite of this being the worst possible thing that could have happened to cricket.”