London  - The president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday described the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Pakistan as a "sad day for the sport and for mankind" but vowed that the game must go on.

"On many occasions we have been told that cricketers would not be targeted in Pakistan. This morning's events have proved that to be incorrect. But cricket must go on, it will go on. It's a great game," ICC president David Morgan said in London.

New Delhi, Mar. 3 : Tuesday's ghastly terror act in Lahore in which seven Sri Lankan cricketers were injured has certainly confirmed that the Indian government's denial to grant permission to its cricket team to visit Pakistan was not a hasty step in the wake of Mumbai attacks.

The `commando attack' on the players proves that teams around the world were right on their part for not touring Pakistan, and also put forth a question mark on the claims of former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan that his country is safe for cricketers.

In an interview with Australian Television, Imran Khan had proudly declared that the game of cricket would never be hampered by militants in Pakistan because of the fact that Pakistanis love their game passionately.

Islamabad, Mar 3 : Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman has strongly condemned the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team, and said it is an attempt to spoil the reputation of Pakistan.

Sherry said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have strongly denounced the attack and the prime minister has ordered immediate enquiry of the incident and a report would be compiled soon.

She said security forces took the control of the area and there is no need to be panic, The News reported.

Kathmandu, Mar 3 : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has cut his stay in Nepal in the wake of attack on Sri Lankan cricket team at Lahore in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Rajapaksa has cancelled his trip to Lumbini.

He had arrived Nepal yesterday on a three-day visit on the invitation of his Nepali counterpart President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.

During his visit, he met Dr. Yadav and Prime Minister Prachanda.

Colombo  - Following an attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka's main opposition parties Tuesday criticized the government's decision to send the country's players to tour Pakistan when other countries refused to play there.

Colombo - Government troops destroyed at least two enemy boats off the country's north-eastern coast on Monday, thwarting an attempt by Tamil rebels to launch a counter-offensive, a military spokesman said.

The boats had been sent in as part of an attempt to attack troops stationed in an area north of Pthumathalan, 395 kilometres north-east of the capital, when the ground troops stationed in the coastal area fired and destroyed them.