England test star saves umpire in terror shoot-out

More pictures: The aftermath of the attack

In scenes reminiscent of last year's Mumbai attack, young men carrying Kalashnikovs and rucksacks full of grenades moved through the streets firing as they went in a 15-minute gun battle with police bodyguards.

Mr Ghouri praised Broad, who was covered in Mr Raza's blood during the attack, saying: "It was very brave." He added: "It was horrifying. There were bullets flying around us and we didn't know what was happening.

"When the firing started we all went down on the floor of the coach. Our driver was killed instantly from a shot from the front."

Broad's wife Michelle, said he had phoned her to say he was safe, but did not mention his heroics. She added: "Bless him. That would be just like Chris, he is a wonderful man. He would never tell me that sort of thing, he is very modest and I am just so relieved that he is coming home." The driver of the team bus was also hailed a hero for steering the vehicle to safety as gunmen sprayed it with bullets from all sides and players screamed "go, go, go".

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Mehar Mohammad Khalil said: "I was turning the bus towards the stadium near the main roundabout when I saw a rocket fired at us... it missed us and hit an electric pole, after which all hell broke loose."

Mr Khalil said: "A person ran in front of the bus and threw a grenade in our direction. But it rolled underneath the coach and did not seem to cause that much damage.

"God helped us because the grenade exploded after the bus had passed over it."

Mr Khalil said it was only after a Sri Lankan official on board yelled at him to drive fast that he became "sparked up" and drove off from the scene "as fast as I dared".

"Somehow I kept my cool, ducked and pressed the accelerator and sped the bus towards the stadium."

The bus ended up with 25 bullet holes, its front windscreen shattered.

The Sri Lanka team members were ushered into the safety of the stadium where the Test match with Pakistan had been due to start. They were airlifted off the pitch by helicopter.

Paul Farbrace, a former Kent cricketer who is now working as assistant coach for Sri Lanka, was on the team bus.

Farbrace, 41, said: "People have talked about grenades, rocket-launchers and all sorts but I have to say I wasn't aware of too much because I was lying on the floor of the coach and just hoping to God I wasn't going to be struck.

"I realised that the blood I could see was coming from me, but luckily it was superficial wounds.

"You are just lying on the floor praying that one of those bullets doesn't hit you. You realise you are just a sitting duck.

"We all got off the coach, thankfully, because of our driver, who we have just met again and thanked him profusely for his unbelievable efforts to get us out of there.

"We were very lucky that he was able to get us out of the situation."

The terrorists, who arrived in motorised rickshaws and a car, first fired at the wheels of the team bus to try to bring it to a halt. It is understood that all 14 attackers got away. A huge manhunt is under way.

Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group blamed for the Mumbai massacre, was named by Pakistani authorities as main suspects.

One Sri Lanka player, Thilan Samaraweera, was shot in the leg while Tharanga Paranavithana was grazed on the chest by a bullet. Both are in hospital.

Team captain Mahela Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumara Sangakkara and other players, Ajantha Mendis and Chaminda Vaas, were all treated for injuries from shrapnel.

The attack will be a major blow to the future of Pakistani cricket. Several tours and tournaments in recent years have been called off over security fears.

The Sri Lanka tour, which has been cancelled with immediate effect, was only on because India withdrew following the Mumbai attacks.

Last year the International Cricket Council called off the Champions Trophy after three teams including England pulled out, saying touring Pakistan was a high risk for their players.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said: "The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team is shocking and senseless. Today is a grim day for sport.

"The game of cricket brings players, spectators and nations together in a common, peaceful purpose.

"This appalling attack is a grotesque violation of that. Our thoughts are with the Sri Lankan cricketers and with the families of the Pakistani police officers who died protecting them."

The Medical Superintendent of Lahore's Services Hospital, Mohammad Javed, said that a total of 15 wounded people had been admitted to the hospital.

Among them was Mr Raza, whom Mr Javed said was "seriously wounded by a bullet in his abdomen".

Lahore police chief Rehman said "between 12 and 14 men" took part in the assault and they resembled Pashtuns, the ethnic group that comes from close to the Afghan border, the stronghold of al Qaeda and the Taliban.