THE Bangladesh cricket team narrowly avoided being caught up in a shooting at a mosque in Christchurch today (15) that left 30 dead and forced the cancellation of a test match against hosts New Zealand.
At least one gunman killed 49 people and wounded more than 20 during Friday prayers at two New Zealand mosques in the country’s worst ever mass shooting which prime minister Jacinda Ardern condemned as “a terrorist attack”.
The team were on a bus that was approaching the Al Noor mosque on the eve of the third test at nearby Hagley Oval when the shooting began.
Mario Villavarayen, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, said it had been a close call.
“They were on the bus, which was just pulling up to the mosque when the shooting begun,” he said via Twitter.
“They are at the ground, they are shaken but good.”
The team were pictured on social media walking back through Hagley Park to the cricket ground and a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman later sad the team were in lockdown at their hotel.
“All our players are now safe in their hotel which has been cordoned off,” the spokesman said. “We have advised the players not to step out.
“Importantly, our players are safe.”
BCB President Nazmul Hassan later told reporters in Dhaka that the team would now demand better security on all of their overseas tours.
“When any foreign team comes to our country, we always ensure proper security,” Hassan said. “To be honest, New Zealand is such a country that no one expects such kind of incident there.
“We’ll demand proper security wherever our team goes in future. If a country provides proper security as per our demand, then we will go, otherwise not.
“I can say that everything will change after this incident. We will set a plan from now on to ensure proper security when our team will be on tour in future.”
New Zealand Cricket said they had chosen to cancel the test, which was the final match of the tour, after discussions with the BCB.
“I spoke to my counterpart in Bangladesh and we agree it’s inappropriate to play cricket at this time,” chief executive David White told TVNZ.
“It’s quite unbelievable really. We are shocked.”
White said he had spoken to the liaison officer with the Bangladesh team and the players were “shocked”.
“Arrangements are being made for the return of the Bangladesh team home as soon as possible,” NZC said in a statement.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal said on Twitter the experience had been “frightening”.
“Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers,” he wrote.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the first two tests through injury, said the team had been fortunate to avoid the shooting.
“we r extremely lucky,” Mushfiqur said. “…never want to see this things happen again….pray for us.”
(Reuters)
