The Bangladesh cricket team were able to escape unhurt after a gunman targeted a mosque they had visited in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday.
The Bangladesh cricket team were able to escape unhurt after a gunman targeted a mosque they had visited in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play New Zealand in the third and final Test of the series starting from Saturday. According to reports, the squad, along with the traveling media personnel attended the Friday prayers at the mosque, which is near the Hagley Oval Stadium where the match is set to be played. (Read in Bengali)
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a statement via a tweet where they said, “All members of the Bangladesh Cricket Team in Christchurch, New Zealand are safely back in the hotel following the incident of shooting in the city. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in constant contact with the players and team management.”
New Zealand Cricket revealed both teams are accounted for and status of the third Test remains unclear.
Speaking to New Zealand Herald, Bangladesh’s team strength and conditioning coach, Mario Villavarayen said: “The players are shaken up but fine. I spoke to one of them shortly after (the incident).”
“They didn’t see anything but heard gunshots. They were at the ground and just started running.
“The coaching staff were all at the hotel. The players just started running when they heard the shots. I don’t know how many (gunshots) there were. This happened at about 1.45pm,” he added.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tamim Iqbal, in a tweet, described it as a “frightening experience”. “Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers,” he wrote.
The Bangladesh team’s analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran added: “Just escaped active shooters. Heartbeats pumping badly and panic everywhere.”
Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh further said that there will be a “team meeting shortly”.
According to New Zealand Herald, a New Zealand Cricket spokesperson described the incident as an “unfolding situation”, on being questioned whether the match will take place as scheduled after the incident.
The Kiwis have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match Test series.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play New Zealand in the third and final Test of the series starting from Saturday. According to reports, the squad, along with the traveling media personnel attended the Friday prayers at the mosque, which is near the Hagley Oval Stadium where the match is set to be played. (Read in Bengali)
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a statement via a tweet where they said, “All members of the Bangladesh Cricket Team in Christchurch, New Zealand are safely back in the hotel following the incident of shooting in the city. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in constant contact with the players and team management.”
New Zealand Cricket revealed both teams are accounted for and status of the third Test remains unclear.
Speaking to New Zealand Herald, Bangladesh’s team strength and conditioning coach, Mario Villavarayen said: “The players are shaken up but fine. I spoke to one of them shortly after (the incident).”
“They didn’t see anything but heard gunshots. They were at the ground and just started running.
“The coaching staff were all at the hotel. The players just started running when they heard the shots. I don’t know how many (gunshots) there were. This happened at about 1.45pm,” he added.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tamim Iqbal, in a tweet, described it as a “frightening experience”. “Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers,” he wrote.
The Bangladesh team’s analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran added: “Just escaped active shooters. Heartbeats pumping badly and panic everywhere.”
Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh further said that there will be a “team meeting shortly”.
According to New Zealand Herald, a New Zealand Cricket spokesperson described the incident as an “unfolding situation”, on being questioned whether the match will take place as scheduled after the incident.
The Kiwis have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match Test series.