Islamabad  - Initial investigations indicate that militants from the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group might be involved in this week's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket squad in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, a media report said Friday.

Initial details emerging from the inquiry suggested that a group of LeT activists acted on their own in carrying out Tuesday's attack, the English-language Dawn newspaper reported.

The militants wanted to avenge the arrest by Pakistan of their operational commander, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, after Indian officials blamed the LeT for the November attacks in Mumbai, which left more than 170 people dead and more than 300 injured, the newspaper said, citing unnamed investigators.

Pakistan's top security official, Rehman Malik, refused to confirm the report.

"At this moment, I can only say that investigations into the Lahore attack are going in the right direction," Malik told Dawn.

The gun, grenade and rocket launcher attack left six police officers and two civilians dead. Seven Sri Lankan players and their British coach were injured.

Initially, Pakistani officials gave contradicting statements as to who might be behind the attack.

Some officials held arch-rival India responsible for the attack. Others said the Sri Lankan separatist rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, might be involved.

However, Malik ruled out both theories and told parliament Thursday that al-Qaeda could also be behind the terrorist strike.

Pakistan has seen dozens of suicide bombings and attacks on security officials and politicians in recent months. Islamic militants have also carried out several attacks and abductions of foreign diplomats, journalists and relief workers.

But Tuesday's strike was the first on an international cricket team. Many critics have blamed inadequate security for the raid, which the Sri Lankan team narrowly survived. (dpa)