Broad hailed as hero | Cricket comment: Richard Hobson I Pakistan cricket's troubled history I Pakistan's hosting of 2011 World Cup in doubt I The end of the road for Pakistan I Hobson on Broad bravery

What was your first reaction to the news of today's events?

Everyone in cricket and the wider sporting world will be utterly shocked because this has now taken a new turn. Up until today I can't think of a previous instance, except at the Munich Olympics, where a sporting team has been specifically targeted; this is clearly a new phase of terrorist activity and a very disturbing one.

What does this mean for cricket in Pakistan in the short term?

It's devastating, already we've had five or six of the world's major teams saying that they wouldn't play in Pakistan - Sri Lanka, who were their last remaining ally, won't be going back in a hurry.

They'll be no international cricket in the immediate term – I guess Pakistan could still play cricket in Abu Dhabi or Dubai or even in England. Giles Clarke has said they could play neutral Tests in England – and that’s a real possibility now.

But if there's no international cricket in Pakistan, cricket could wither away. It didn't in South Africa, where it flourished on a domestic level, but for Pakistan it remains to be seen.

Pakistan haven’t played any Tests in 2008 and this will come as another big blow – it was an attack on the Sri Lanka team but has also been an attack on Pakistan itself.

Cricket is the national sport, the great love of the sporting people and the one normal area of life to engage with the international community so Pakistan will find themselves more and more isolated and shunned and that's a terrible shame.

We’re only two years away from the World Cup, which is being held all over the Asian sub-continent - with terrorism in Pakistan, India and in Sri Lanka, what does this mean for their ability to host it?

It's worrying but too early to say how great the ramifications will be – no doubt the ICC will be spending the coming weeks and months looking at the logistical problems that this presents. You’re right, it's not just Pakistan who have seen this type of activity.

Early signs suggest it's the same group behind the Mumbai terror attacks and there's been terrorism in India and Sri Lanka is war-torn so it doesn't look good for the World Cup in 2011.

Although that’s not to say it won't be held there because cricket in the sub-continent, particularly India, is the powerhouse of the game, it’s where the financial muscle is and politically the strongest people in the game are there. A lot will be done to make sure that the World Cup is not moved but it’s too early to say what the effects will be.

Was there a feeling that terrorists wouldn't strike at cricketers on the sub-continent because cricket is so much part of national psyche, almost like attacking themselves?

There was always that feeling, I certainly felt that. I was one who urged England to go back and play in Mumbai – and urged people to play in Pakistan and couldn't imagine anyone targeting them. Clearly that's shown to be a little bit false in the aftermath of what's gone on. I hope it's a one-off and not the start of something bigger and wider.

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, says no expense will be spared in protecting those taking part in this year’s tournament. Have you spoken to England players involved such as Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Bopara?

Not yet. It would be quite interesting to have a chat with Stuart Broad, whose father was involved in the attack. A few of the England team were quite cautious after the Mumbai attacks but all went back to play.

I sense everybody will make sure the IPL and other events in India carry on because if cricket in India takes a blow, then it's almost the end of cricket as a truly international sport – it becomes an enclave of a few countries here and there. It’s vitally important it continues to be played on the sub-continent.

You can have all the presidential-style level of security you want but even if Lalit Modi promises this, it doesn’t mean you're 100 per cent safe - in Pakistan presumably it was given to Benazir Bhutto but it didn't help.

Chris Broad played the hero today, flinging himself across his fellow umpires as they came under attack. What do you know about his character?

If he has played the hero's role then good on him. It would be a silly thing to say you can see in somebody's character and the way they bat at the crease whether they would be able to play a hero's role in a terrorist attack.

One doesn't ever know how one is going to react under that kind of pressure and those circumstances. But clearly he played his part.