Sydney, Mar 5: Cricket Australia has sent its officials to Dubai for a safety inspection for the one-day series next month against Pakistan, days after the Sri Lankan tean was fired upon in Lahore.

Cricket Australia officials, including Michael Brown and Australian Cricketers’ Association chief Paul Marsh are in Dubai for the pre-tour inspection, Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.

“Brute (team manager Steve Bernard) left us last night to go to Dubai to do the regular pre-tour visit,” Ponting said.

Sydney, Mar. 5: Former CEO of the International Cricket Council, Malcolm Speed, has said that Tuesday’s terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, has changed the way the sport is to be played forever and from Pakistan''s point of view, particularly so.

In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Speed described the shocking attack on the Sri Lankans as a cricket administrator''s worst nightmare, and said that such an incident should no longer been seen as an occupational hazard for elite sportsmen and women.

Melbourne, Mar 5: Sri Lankan spin king and the highest wicket taker in the world, Muttiah Muralitharan, has cast doubts on his immediate playing future following Tuesday's traumatic attack in Pakistan.

Muralitharan thought his teammates were being slaughtered before his eyes.

He and Australian Cricketers' Association president Darren Lehmann last night demanded improved security arrangements for international teams after several Sri Lankans were injured in the Lahore attack.

Melbourne, Mar 5 : Less than 24 hours after world cricket descended into chaos in Lahore, Australian fast bowler Brett Lee defiantly said he would not bow to terrorism by withdrawing from the Indian Premier League.

Lee spent time relaxing in Sydney with son Preston on Wednesday, telling that he will not be scared off by the bloody attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan.

"At this stage I have no problem at all going ahead and playing IPL. What happened in Pakistan was obviously very sad, but we can''t let this stop us going about what we do with our lives. Obviously we will be guided by Cricket Australia and their cricket security experts," The Courier Mail quoted Lee, as saying.

Wellington, Mar 5: Indian batting ace Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his shock and sadness at the attack on Sri Lankan players outside Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, terming it as a “very unfortunate” incident.

“More or less all of them are good friends. It’s very sad what has happened,” said Tendulkar as he arrived in Wellington on Wednesday to prepare for second one-dayer against New Zealand that takes place on Friday.

Pakistan must fight its jehadi groups or watch the nation slide into more chaos

The Pakistanis love their cricket. They are highly skilled in it and like to flaunt their cricketing prowess. They were disappointed when both Australia and India refused to play on Pakistan soil citing inadequate security for the players as the reason.