Sri Lankan Cricket Chief and Sports Minister Gamini Lokugey said he had sent the team to Pakistan, trusting the PCB.

By Dinesh Chopra in Colombo

Speaking exclusively to SportsCenter India, Lokugey said: "We trusted the PCB and the Pakistan Foreign Ministry that the team would be given Presidential security."

Sri Lankan cricketers met with severe firing on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from 12 terrorists, who surrounded the team bus and attacked the vehicle with grenades and missile launchers.

The players were later air lifted from the stadium by an army helicopter and flown back home via Abu Dhabi.

"We are awaiting word from our board representative, who is in Pakistan to assess the incident before we can comment more on the issue."

On being queried whether it was right on the part of the SLC to send the players to Pakistan when India had denied to tour on security conditions, Lokugey passed the buck to former SLC chief Arjuna Ranatunga.

"It was Ranatunga's call to send the team to Pakistan, I only implemented it."

"This was accepted by the earlier chief. Our Foreign Ministry ratified it and the Pakistan Foreign Minstry assured us of maximum security."

"If tomorrow, the Indian government assures us of security for our team there, we are not going to doubt it. Same was the case with Pakistan."

While the players reunited with worried family members in the Colombo airport, the blame game seems to have started.