West Indies chief says all players are now targets

BRIDGETOWN (Reuters) - The attack on the Sri Lanka team has security implications beyond Pakistan with all cricketers now targets, West Indies Cricket Board president Julian Hunte said on Tuesday.

"All test-playing nations must ensure that security is priority number one, in our area of the world as well," Hunte said in a statement after six players were injured in the Lahore attack.

Five policemen and a bus driver were killed.

"Before, it was felt that cricketers were not being targeted regardless of what was going on in Pakistan. There was a level of comfort," added Hunte.

"This now blows that away and it means cricketers are being seen as targets. It is a matter we cannot ignore, and we must ensure the safety of players and everyone else involved in this beautiful game."

Hunte said it would be a long time before international cricket returned to Pakistan.

"This is a sad day for international cricket and a sad day for Pakistan cricket. The people of Pakistan will now be denied international cricket for the foreseeable future.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the Sri Lanka team and we wish them well. We thank God no members of the team were killed.

"We also want to express condolences to the families of the security forces who died while trying to protect the Sri Lanka players, the team staff and team officials," he said.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must be devastated at the prospect of not being able to host international matches. This now puts the PCB in a difficult position to develop the game in their country," he added.

Hunte said that the attacks justified the cautious stance taken toward holding international events in Pakistan.

"The attacks prove that the International Cricket Council was wise not to schedule the 2009 Champions Trophy there, after having postponed the tournament in 2008 for security reasons," he said.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)