A PAIR of Sri Lankan cricketers, at the centre of yesterday’s Pakistan terrorist attack, are former members of local clubs.

It is understood Malinda Warnapura, who played 17 matches for Mirfield Parish Cavaliers in 2006, and Thilan Thushara, who played for Hanging Heaton Cricket Club, Batley, in 2006 and 2007, both escaped without injury.

Earlier yesterday it was believed that Thushara had been hurt when gunmen, armed with rifles and rocket launchers opened fire on their team’s tour bus at the Liberty Square roundabout in central Lahore, near Gaddafi Stadium.

Six police officers and two civilians were killed and seven players were injured ahead of the third day of the second Test yesterday.

Batsmen Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana, who were hurt in the attack, were taken to hospital for treatment.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene, wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, spinner Ajantha Mendis, speed bowler Chaminda Vaas and seamer Suranka Lakmal are also thought to have been hurt.

Englishman Paul Farbrace, who was appointed as Sri Lanka’s assistant coach in July, 2007, is also thought to have been injured.

Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.

Barry Fretwell, former secretary of Meltham Parish Cavaliers CC, said: “Obviously Malinda and the others have had a lucky escape.

“As a guy Malinda was great. We met his wife as well. We used to keep her entertained while he was playing.

“He mixed very well with us all. He wasn’t shy and he was liked in the dressing room.

“He came to practices and helped with the teaching. He was an excellent professional cricketer. I’m not surprised he got as far as he did. He was a great spin bowler and an excellent batter.

“I was very concerned when I heard about the attacks.”

John Higson, committee member for Hanging Heaton CC, added: “I’m feeling very sad. I didn’t know (Thushara) very well. I watched him play on the odd occasion.

“I can’t see Pakistan getting any test cricket for years after this.”

Meanwhile Former England cricketer Chris Broad was hailed a hero after reportedly shielding a wounded Pakistani umpire as gunmen fired at them.

Broad, 51, was shaken by the ordeal, which saw him caught up in the bloody terror attacks in Pakistan, according to his son Stuart Broad.

He was following the Sri Lankan team’s coach when it was ambushed.

According to reports, Broad, a former England opening batsman and now an International Cricket Council match referee, threw himself on top of a local umpire when they too came under fire.

Broad covered injured Pakistani umpire Ahsan Raza with his own body.

Raza had been shot and Broad was trying to protect him from more bullets.

Stuart Broad, also an England cricketer, revealed his father witnessed things “he never wanted to see” during the terrorist attack in Lahore.

“My dad saw things that he never expected to see and he never wants to see again,” said Broad junior, who was travelling with the England team to Trinidad from Barbados.

“It was dreadful. I spoke to him in the early hours of this morning and he was obviously very shook up by it all. It has obviously been really heart-breaking for him.”

The Test series between the two Asian countries was immediately scrapped in the immediate aftermath of the attack and the Sri Lankan players not requiring hospital treatment were flown out of the ground, where they had taken refuge, by helicopter.

“He got safely out of Pakistan to Abu Dhabi, I think,” Stuart Broad, 22, added.