Christchurch (New Zealand): The Bangladesh cricket team narrowly avoided being caught up in a shooting at a mosque here on Friday, forcing the cancellation of a test match against hosts New Zealand.
At least one gunman killed 49 people during Friday prayers at two mosques in the country's worst ever mass shooting.
The Bangladesh 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.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh cricket team manager Khaled Mashud recalled the chilling details of the shooting incident and revealed that the team were only about 50 yards away from the mosque.
"We are very lucky that our bus was far away. About 17 of us were in that bus. We were (inaudible) going to the mosque for Namaz (prayers). Two players were in the hotel, rest all of us in that (bus). We were very close, we could see the masjid from the bus. We were about 50 yards away (from the mosque). I would say that we are very lucky. If we had reached the mosque 3 to 4 mins before, then it would have been a massive incident," said Mashud.
The BCB manager also said the players and officials were hiding inside the bus while the gunman shot down people inside the mosque.
"We saw it from outside, like watching a video, like in the movies. Saw many people coming out bloodied. Many people could come out. We were in the bus for about eight to 10 minutes. We had our heads down in the bus in case there is firing, if it comes out (firing)," Mashud added.
Post the terror attack, BCB President Nazmul Hassan later told reporters 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," he said.
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.
"Arrangements are being made for the return of the Bangladesh team home as soon as possible," NZC said in a statement.
