Cricket: Broad admits to conspiracy fears.

CHRIS BROAD has admitted his concern about the possibility of a conspiracy behind the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team coach and match officials in Lahore.

The 51-year-old former England batsman, who was acting as the International Cricket Council's match referee during the series, was caught in the crossfire of an ambush on Tuesday as the match officials and Sri Lanka players made their way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second Test.

Broad and umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis emerged unscathed from the incident, but six policemen were killed and local umpire Ahsan Raza suffered a bullet wound to his stomach, while seven Sri Lankan players and assistant coach Paul Farbrace also suffered injuries.

Broad yesterday attacked the Pakistan security forces which he claimed had left them like "sitting ducks", but he has also admitted his concern about how the situation unfolded.

Despite the security arrangements including elite policemen armed with machine guns, the terrorists were able to attack with relative ease.

Broad said: "On the first two days (of the Test) both buses left at the same time with escorts.

"On this particular day the Pakistan bus left five minutes after the Sri Lankan bus. Why?

"It went through my mind as we were leaving the hotel - 'Where is the Pakistan bus?' - but there were times during the Karachi Test when the Sri Lankans went first and Pakistan went afterwards.

"I thought maybe they were having five or 10 minutes more in the hotel and would turn up later, but after this happened you start to think: 'Did someone know something and they held the Pakistan bus back?"'

CAPTION(S):

Referee Chris Broad yesterday