Bangla escape attack, tour called off
The Bangladesh cricket team escaped unhurt despite being in close vicinity of a shooting attack on a mosque but its ongoing tour of New Zealand was called off owing to the “unprecedented act of violence” in which 49 people were killed.
The team was 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. “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 said 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 said 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,” he added.
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 said. “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. Opener 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.
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