Dubai, UAE - Cricket's world governing body Tuesday condemned the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan.

"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 Dubai-based International Cricket Council (ICC) said Tuesday.

"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."

Masked gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus and a police escort in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. Latest reports said six players were injured and seven policemen killed.

The players were on the way to Gaddafi Stadium, where Sri Lanka and Pakistan were to open the third day of play of their second test match. The tour has now been cancelled and the Sri Lankan team was set to return home.

Lorgat 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 said it would make no further comment "until the full facts of the incident are established and the players and match officials have returned home safely."

India and Australia have pulled out of cricket tours in Pakistan in the recent past citing security concerns.

Pakistan is engaged in a bloody struggle against Islamist insurgents who have carried out attacks on civilian targets before.

In March last year, Australia called off its tour of Pakistan following a series of suicide bombings.

The ICC later decided to postpone last year's Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan due to safety worries.

The one-day international tournament involving eight teams was due to be held in September last year, but has been put back to October with Sri Lanka seen as a possible venue.

Sri Lanka had also stepped in to play in Pakistan after India cancelled its series for January and February amid political tension with Pakistan over the Mumbai terrorist attacks last November which killed 165 people.

That attack coincided with a tour by the England team who had stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel which was one of the targets for the attacks. (dpa)