DHAKA, March 15, 2019 (BSS)- All Bangladeshi cricketers are safe after
surviving a close shave following a gun attack inside a mosque in
Christchurch today that has claimed several lives. But they remain upset
after watching the vicious incident live, said team manager Khaled Masud
Pilot.
“They are all safe but they remain distraught. They can’t forget what
happened just in front of their eyes,” Masud told the BSS today.
The cricketers are set to leave New Zealand in the first available flight
after both Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and New Zealand Cricket Board (BCB)
jointly decided to call off the third Test which was scheduled to start
tomorrow (Saturday).
“Their family members are very worried about their safety. They are calling
them repeatedly but I want to assure all of them they are safe and sound,” he
said.
The attack was described by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden as “one of New
Zealand’s darkest days”.
Members of Bangladeshi players were going to mosque to perform their Jummah
prayers at Christchurch’s Masjid Al Noor. However as they were about to enter
the mosque, a lady warned them that a gun attack was going on inside the
mosque. Being panicked upon hearing the news and the sound of fire, they
players entered inside a bus and laid down on the floor.
They returned to the cricket ground and advised to stay in the stadium
premises. Later they were escorted back to the team hotel.
Players took their twitter handle to share the experience of the vicious
attack.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal wrote on Twitter: “Entire team got saved from
active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your
prayers.”
“Alhamdulillah, Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the
mosque,” tweeted another player, Mushfiqur Rahim.
“We are extremely lucky…never want to see this things happen
again….pray for us.”
Shrinivas Chandrasekaran, the team’s high performance analyst, posted:
“Just escaped active shooters!!! Heartbeats pumping badly and panic
everywhere!!”.
27 people are believed to be dead so far, according to local reports.
Attacks have been reported in three mosques so far and a car bomb was found
in close vicinity of another.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that a 37-point manifesto from the attacker or
attackers in question was found.