ISLAMABAD A Pakistani umpire shot during a terrorist attack on a convoy taking the Sri Lankan cricket team to a match at Lahore on March 3 is still in hospital recovering from his wounds.

Ahsan Raza was the fourth umpire and was traveling in a van with other match officials behind the Sri Lankan team bus when he was shot in the abdomen, causing injuries to his lungs and liver.

`The doctors say it will take another 8-10 days to recover from the wounds,` Raza told The Associated Press from his hospital bed.

More than a dozen gunmen used rifles, grenades and rocket launchers to attack the convoy as it approached Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second cricket test against Pakistan, injuring players and killing six police officers and a civilian.

Raza, a 34-year-old father of three, remained conscious for at least 45 minutes after the shooting before he was rushed to hospital and for urgent surgery.

Ali Raza has spent most nights sleeping in a chair beside his older brother`s hospital bed since the attack. He tells how Raza`s main concern when he reached the emergency room was for his family.

Nurse, save me for my three daughters,` Ali recalls, repeating the plea is brother made that day.

Raza believed that terrorists targeted the Sri Lankan cricketers and had little clue that foreign officials including match referee Chris Broad - a former England test batsman - and Australian umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis were among those traveling in the convoy.

`I think they (terrorists) couldn`t identify who were traveling in the van and God saved us,` Raza said.

`He has undergone two major operations and, according to Ali, doctors have so far used 20 pints of blood to keep his blood pressure normal.`

`We have gone through agony and torture throughout the last two weeks but thank God that my brother is recovering well,` Ali said.

Two Sri Lanka cricketers injured in the attacks and airlifted to Colombo were expected to be released this week.

Thilan Samaraweera, who needed a bullet removed from his left thigh, and Ajantha Mendis, who had head injuries from shrapnel, were expected to recover fully. Their teammates were to return to practice next week, while psychologists had been appointed to help them work through the ordeal.

The younger Raza first heard news of the ambush on television and immediately tried to contact his brother.

`The mobile phone did not respond and then I sent him an instant message `please send me SMS if you are alright` ... without any luck,` Ali said. He finally learned of his brother`s condition when a nurse answered the cell phone at the hospital.

During his recuperation, Raza has discussed returning to the field.

`My brother told me that he wanted to be back on his feet and continue his umpiring career,` Ali said. `Everyone is trying to motivate him and encourage him.`

Ahsan Raza`s role model is Pakistani test umpire Aleem Dar. Ali listed off other umpires who have sent him well wishes, including West Indian Billy Doctrove, Sri Lanka`s Peter Manuel, Suresh Shastri from India, Zimbabwean Russel Tiffin, New Zealand`s Doug Cowie and Taufel, who is already back on the field officiating in a test match between India and New Zealand.

It all helps, Ali said, but there`ll be no such quick return for Ahsan Raza.

`I know it will take at least two months before my brother fully recovers from the wounds and get back on the cricket field,` Ali said.