JOHANNESBURG: South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said the attack by gunmen on Sri Lanka's team bus in Pakistan on Tuesday could signal the end of top-flight cricket in Pakistan for some time.

"Any loss of life is tragic but when it involves sport it just seems so senseless," Arthur told foreign news agency.

"The Sri Lankans are a fantastic bunch of guys who did not deserve to be subjected to something like this.

"Thank God none of them were killed. As far as Pakistan is concerned I'm afraid this could mean the end of international cricket in that country for the foreseeable future."