The Bangladesh cricketers escape unhurt during a brutal attack happened at the nearby mosque.
The players were visiting the Christchurch mosque near Hagley Park where a mass shooting took place on Friday. They were due to play New Zealand a short distance away at Hagley Oval on Saturday.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said the match has been called off.
“A joint decision between NZC and [Bangladesh] has been made to cancel the Hagley Oval Test.”
An official ushering the team from the bus to the hotel indicated it was unlikely the third test against New Zealand would be played.
“There’s no thoughts toward the game. That’s not the biggest concern right now, the players need space.”
Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh said about 3.30pm the team would have a meeting “shortly”.
At least nine people have been confirmed dead in the shooting.
Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal tweeted about the “frightening experience”.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers #christchurchMosqueAttack
— Tamim Iqbal Khan (@TamimOfficial28) March 15, 2019
Alhamdulillah Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque…we r extremely lucky…never want to see this things happen again….pray for us
— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) March 15, 2019
