Islamabad  - The terrorist attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore has left little possibility for an international event of cricket, or any other sports, for the foreseeable future, analysts agreed Wednesday.

"It's a major blow to Pakistan. Who would like to play in the shower of bullets and bombs?" asked retired army general Talat Masood.

"I don't think any international player would step in the country unless and until the country manages to eradicate extremism and terrorism from its soil," he added.

Hours after Tuesday's attack on the Lankan cricketers, New Zealand announced it was calling off its planned December tour of the Islamic country.

Seven persons were left dead in the attack in Lahore, the deadliest such incident in which athletes were targeted since 1972 when Palestinian militants massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics.

No group has claimed the responsibility but a senior Pakistani official suspected Islamic militants for Lahore attack.

Tuesday's bloodshed cast further doubts over Pakistan's ability to host cricket's 2011 World Cup together with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"(The attack) has changed the landscape - I do not think cricket is that different from other sports," International Cricket Council chairman David Morgan said. "I am sure other sporting administrations will be very concerned."

Pakistan Minister for Sports Aftab Jilani admitted that it would be difficult for Pakistan to invite international players for any sports, including the country's national game, field hockey.

In turn, it would also mean Pakistan suffering a major cut in the revenues generated from hosting international sports events.

"The situation looks quite disappointing. But the world should stand by us. We should not yield to terrorists and allow them to destroy sports in Pakistan," said Jilani. He added that in case of a future international sports event Pakistan will have a "fool-proof security arrangement."

But it remains to be seen whether such assurances will convince the outside world to send their sports teams to Pakistan.

Sri Lankan's cricketers braved the visit mainly out for diplomacy reasons at home, where the government wanted to repay Pakistan for its sending of a joint cricket team with India to Colombo in 1996 when the Australia and the West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka due to security reasons.

Otherwise, Australia, South Africa and India had already refused to play in Pakistan in 2008 due to security threats posed by Taliban and al-Qaeda militants who have intensified their campaign of suicide bombings for the last two years.

"This has negatively affected the performance of the players because they had very few games last year," said Imran Khan, the captain of Pakistani team that won 1992 Cricket World Cup.

The terrorists are working to isolate Pakistan and render the future of Pakistani cricket dark, he added. "It is really disappointing for any cricket lover in this country."

But there is still some hope for Pakistani cricket, at least.

ICC chairman Morgan has urged the country to consider playing at neutral venues. "Rather play some cricket than none," he told BBC.

Britain's sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe on Tuesday offered to host Australia's future test series against Pakistan in England. He hoped large number of expatriate Pakistanis in Britain would turn up at the matches. (dpa)