A former player in the Bradford League escaped injury when gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lanka team bus.

Married father-of-one Thilan Thusara was initially reported to have been wounded as a hail of bullets hit the bus which was on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore ahead of the third day of the second Test against Pakistan.

It was later confirmed that Mr Thusara, who played as an opening bowler and batsman for Hanging Heaton Cricket Club, in Bennett Lane, Batley, during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons, was not among the seven injured players.

Today Hanging Heaton chairman Graham Ford said the test cricketer’s former colleagues in Bradford would be shocked at news of the attack.

He said: “He played for Hanging Heaton last season and the season before.

“For the Bradford League, he was a very good player.

“I just heard what had happened on the news this morning.

“Obviously the players will be surprised by this.”

Two Sri Lankan players - Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana - were treated for injuries in hospital but were stable.

Team captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranka Lakmal and Chaminda Vaas had minor injuries, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board said.

The team's English assistant coach Paul Farbrace also suffered minor injuries.

Reports also suggest five policemen were killed when the team bus was fired upon by unidentified armed gunmen 100 metres from the stadium.

Sri Lanka vice-captain Mr Sangakkara has since confirmed he and his team-mates were “safe and out of danger.”

He told CNN-IBN: “There are a few injuries but everyone is safe and all the players are out of danger. We are shocked, but apart from that everyone is okay.

“Thilan (Samaraweera) has a shrapnel wound in his leg, but he is fine. (Tharanga) Paranavitana had shrapnel in his chest, but thank God it wasn’t very deep and just on the surface.”

“I had shrapnel injuries in my shoulder, but they have all been removed and I’m okay now.

“Ajantha (Mendis) had shrapnel in his neck and scalp, but he too has had medical attention and is fine. Everyone else is perfectly all right.”

A statement on the Sri Lanka government’s official website confirmed that the Test match against Pakistan has now been called off.

e-mail: marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk