On March 17, 1996, Sri Lankan cricketers left Lahore's Gaddafi stadium with glowing faces after winning the World Cup, upsetting the more highly ranked Australia.

Thirteen years later, the same ground hosted a nightmare for the Sri Lankans, who were evacuated from there by Pakistan Air Force helicopters, wounded and shocked by terrorist attacks half a mile (800 metres) away.

Two members of the 25-man squad airlifted from the stadium -- off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and allrounder Chaminda Vaas --- were also part of the 1996 team.

"The stadium gives us a nostalgic feeling. It is one of my favourite grounds. It is a happy hunting ground for us," said Muralitharan in January, after Sri Lanka clinched a one-day series against Pakistan by winning the third match at the stadium.

But Tuesday's attack -- which left six policemen and two civilians dead, and seven Sri Lankan cricketers and an assistant coach wounded -- has probably turned the happy hunting ground into a no-go zone, both for Sri Lanka and other international teams.

"We are lucky to be standing before you. The whole episode is nightmarish," Muralitharan said, after his team returned to Sri Lanka early Wednesday.

Groundsman Haji Bashir is another person who has witnessed both triumph and tragedy for the Sri Lankans at the Gaddafi stadium.

"On that day (when they won the 1996 World Cup), their faces were lit with happiness, but on Tuesday it was exactly opposite," Bashir said. "I don't know when I will see them again."

Built in the 1950s, the Gaddafi stadium at first hosted all sports. It was previously called the Olympic stadium before staging a Test match in November 1959 between Pakistan and Australia.

Since then the sprawling stadium with a capacity of 24,000 spectators has been reserved for cricket matches only.

In all, 40 Tests have been played here, of which Pakistan have won 12, lost six and drawn 22.

The stadium has hosted 58 one-day internationals, with the home team winning 29, losing 18 and drawing one. There have been 10 neutral games (involving teams other than Pakistan).

In 1974, then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto renamed the stadium after Libya's President Moamer Kadhafi.

The stadium, located in the posh Gulberg area, has two entrances, one from the Ferozepur Road and the other from the Liberty roundabout, where Tuesday's attack took place.

The stadium is due to host the 2011 World Cup semifinal but whether any of 1996's happy memories will be repeated must now be in doubt.

The International Cricket Council and its members countries have already cast doubt over Pakistan hosting 2011 World Cup matches.

Even the Pakistan Cricket Board, which is supposed to work with co-hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, is not sure what the security situation will be in two year's time.