The deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore will have a lasting and damaging impact on planned tours to Pakistan, the Australian Cricketers' Association said on Tuesday.

Eight people were killed and six Sri Lankan team members were wounded when up to 12 gunmen attacked the squad's convoy near the Gaddafi stadium with rockets, hand grenades and automatic weapons, police said.

The brazen attack shocked and saddened Australian cricket, whose national team have not toured Pakistan since 1998 over security fears.

The players' union chief executive Paul Marsh said the savage attack would have massive ramifications for Pakistan cricket.

"It is one of those things, you know the risk is pretty large in that part of the world in Pakistan, but there has always been a belief that sports people will not be targeted and I am just stunned," Marsh said.

"It is very sad that it has come to this for all the cricketers and Pakistan cricket in particular.

"This is not their doing but I am sure the fallout from this is going to have a lasting impact on Pakistan cricket and the future of the game in Pakistan."

Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith said his country "condemns absolutely" the violence.

"This is clearly another cowardly terrorist attack aimed at trying to destabilise the state of Pakistan," Smith said.

Shocked and saddened

The foreign minister said he had spoken to Australia's ambassador who had assured him all Australians travelling with the Sri Lankan team were safe, with the exception of one person, who was believed to have received minor injuries.

Former Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody said he was "shocked and saddened" by the orchestrated ambush in the upmarket district around Lahore's Liberty Square.

"My thoughts and prayers are not only with my friends in the Sri Lankan cricket team, but with the families of everyone that has been killed or injured in today's attack," Moody, who coached the national team from 2005 until just after the 2007 World Cup, said in a statement.

Trevor Penny, who was Moody's assistant coach in the Sri Lankan team, said cricket in Pakistan would never be the same after the shootings.

"I think in Pakistan it will change (the game) a lot. I'm hoping in the rest of the world the security will just tighten up again and cricket will go on as normal," Penny told reporters in Perth.

"I know the players have lived in a country where there's been bombings and stuff like that and all these terrorist groups haven't really targeted cricketers up until now.

"So this has come as a big shock to the cricketing world."

Cricket Australia left stunned

Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said Australian cricket was stunned by the attack.

"Australian cricket has many friends in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan and we sincerely hope they are all safe after this awful incident," Sutherland said.

"Early reports are unclear but we are deeply saddened to hear reports that security officials in Pakistan have been killed in this attack.

Australia and Pakistan are due to play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 fixture in late April/May in Dubai.

The Pakistan Cricket Board was forced to play the series at neutral venues after the Australian government refused permission for its team to tour Pakistan.

In March last year, Australia also refused to tour Pakistan over security fears. The two countries agreed to reschedule the tour into two visits, however — one-day matches in 2009 and Tests in 2010.

But security concerns once again prompted the Australians to insist on neutral venues.