Bangladesh cricketers narrowly escaped the deadly mosque attacks in Christchurch on Friday. The team has been mentally disturbed since the attack and hence, has cut short their New Zealand tour. Most of the Bangladeshi team and staff had arrived at Christchurch's Masjid al Noor mosque for Friday prayers when they were warned not to go inside as the shooting unfolded. Jalal Yunus, the Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman said that the team was unharmed but "mentally shocked". The team members have been asked to stay in the team hotel. "They are safe. But they are mentally shocked. We have asked the team to stay confined in the hotel", said Yunus.
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"Just escaped active shooters!!! Heartbeats pumping badly and panic everywhere!!", tweeted Bangladesh high performance analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal called it "frightening", while team-mate Mushfiqur Rahim posted: "We r extremely lucky...never want to see this things happen again....pray for us."
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The third and final Test match of Bangladesh's tour which was scheduled to start in Christchurch on Saturday was quickly scrapped. "I have spoken to my counterpart in Bangladesh and we both agree that it's inappropriate to play cricket at this time....we are shocked and appalled, as I'm sure all New Zealanders are ", NZ Cricket chief executive David White said. International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson backed the decision and sent "sincere condolences... to the families and friends of those affected by this horrendous incident".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had informed that 40 people were killed in attacks on two mosques on what she described as "one of New Zealand's darkest days".