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Associated Press

An international cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been cancelled after players from the visiting team narrowly avoided a mass shooting at a mosque in Christchurch on Friday.
At least 40 people were killed in the shootings at two mosques and more than 20 people were wounded.
The Bangladesh players came within minutes of being inside one of the mosques when a gunman opened fire with an automatic rifle.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said there had been a “joint decision” to call off the third test, which had been set to start on Saturday in Christchurch.

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

“On behalf of New Zealand Cricket, heartfelt condolences to those affected,” White said. “I’ve spoken to my counterpart at Bangladesh cricket – we agree it’s inappropriate to play cricket at this time.
“Both teams are deeply affected. We are shocked and appalled as I am sure all New Zealanders are. We are offering support to all those within the teams affected by the situation and are continuing to take advice from authorities on the ground.”
Christchurch shooting: tearful Muslim New Zealand All Blacks player Sonny Bill Williams sends his prayers – ‘you are all in paradise’
Earlier, members of the Bangladesh cricket team described on social media how they narrowly avoided the mosque shooting on New Zealand’s South Island.
Players and members of the team’s coaching staff were reportedly on their bus, approaching the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Hagley Park when the shooting started.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal tweeted: “Entire team got saved from active shooters. Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers.”

Performance analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekeran, also on Twitter, posted: “Just escaped active shooters. Heartbeats pumping badly and panic everywhere.”
Player Mushfiqur Rahim posted: “Alhamdulillah Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque. We [were] extremely lucky … never want to see this things happen again … pray for us.”
Mario Villavarayan, a strength and conditioning coach with the Bangladesh team, told New Zealand media the players did not see the shooter but heard shots. He said they were shaken but unhurt.

“I spoke to one of them shortly after,” Villavarayan said. “They were at the ground and just started running. The coaching staff were all at the hotel.”
New Zealand Cricket said all players and support staff were “safe and accounted for,” and a Bangladesh team spokesman later said all players had returned to the team hotel.
Mohammad Isam, a journalist travelling with the Bangladesh team, said the team was meeting Friday night to discuss when they might leave New Zealand.

He expected they would depart as soon as arrangements could be made. Players were shaken, distressed and in no mental state to consider playing cricket, he said.
Isam confirmed some players and coaching staff were travelling by bus to the mosque, which is close to the centre of Christchurch city and also close to Hagley Oval where the third test was to be played.
As the players arrived at the mosque they heard but did not see the shooting taking place. The players were kept on the bus by police but later allowed to leave and to walk to Hagley Oval.

International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson said the sport’s governing body “fully supports the decision to cancel the test match”.
“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this horrendous incident in Christchurch,” Richardson said. “Both teams, staff and match officials are safe.”
The test match in Christchurch is the first to be cancelled since 2002 when a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi was called off after a terrorist bombing in the city.
The Bangladesh players are expected to leave New Zealand on two flights Saturday. Isam said the players were still shaken but recovering.


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ICC (International Cricket Council)

Christchurch shooting: Bangladesh cricket team forced to flee shooter during mosque attack; test match cancelled

Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. Multiple people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers on what the prime minister called "one of New Zealand's darkest days," as authorities detained four people and defused explosive devices in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Grieving members of the public following a shooting at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 15, 2019. REUTERS/SNPA/Martin Hunter ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Bangladesh's team players and officials pose for a group photograph during day four of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 11, 2019. Photo: AFP

New Zealand shooting: 49 killed, more than 40 wounded in mass shootings at Christchurch mosques

An image grab from TV New Zealand taken on March 15, 2019 shows New Zealand police officers cordoning the area near the mosque following a shooting in Christchurch. - At least one gunman who targeted crowded mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch killed a number of people, police said, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern describing the shooting as "one of New Zealand's darkest days". (Photo by Laurent FIEVET / TV New Zealand / AFP) / New Zealand OUT / XGTY----EDITORS NOTE ----RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / TV New Zealand / NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS- NO ARCHIVE

New Zealand police Commissioner Mike Bush speak to the media after an attack on a mosque in Christchurch at the Royal Society building in Wellington on March 15, 2019. - At least one gunman who targeted crowded mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch killed a number of people, police said, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern describing the shooting as "one of New Zealand's darkest days". (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

Police and ambulance staff help a wounded man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Members of a family react outside the mosque following a shooting at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 15, 2019. REUTERS/SNPA/Martin Hunter ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

In this image made from video, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives a press conference from Wellington, after the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. Ardern said the values of her country would not be "shaken" by the deadly attacks that left dozens dead. (TVNZ via AP)

Bloodied bandages on the road following a shooting at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 15, 2019. REUTERS/SNPA/Martin Hunter ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

AOS (Armed Offenders Squad) push back members of the public following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand,, March 15, 2019. REUTERS/SNPA/Martin Hunter ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

An injured person is loaded into an ambulance following a shooting at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 15, 2019. REUTERS/SNPA/Martin Hunter ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Witnesses and police at the south end of Deans Avenue after a shooting incident at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 15, 2019. REUTERS/SNPA/David Alexander ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Police escort people away from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. Multiple people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques full of people attending Friday prayers, as New Zealand police warned people to stay indoors as they tried to determine if more than one gunman was involved. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

A view of the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue in Christchurch, New Zealand, taken in 2014. REUTERS/SNPA/Martin Hunter ATTENTION EDITORS - NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Ambulance staff attend to a victim. Photo: AP

Christchurch shooting: tearful Muslim New Zealand All Blacks player Sonny Bill Williams sends his prayers – ‘you are all in paradise’

Sonny Bill Williams during his Twitter post. Photo: Twitter

Rugby Union - Australia Wallabies vs New Zealand All Blacks - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia, August 19, 2017. New Zealand All Blacks player Sonny Bill Williams runs to score a try as Australian Wallabies players Curtis Rona and Henry Speight try to tackle him. REUTERS/Jason Reed

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‘Panic everywhere’ as members of team narrowly avoid mosque shooting
‘Joint decision’ made to cancel Saturday’s test match against New Zealand


‘Panic everywhere’ as members of team narrowly avoid mosque shooting, with ‘joint decision’ made to cancel Saturday’s test match against New Zealand


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.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}‘Panic everywhere’ as members of team narrowly avoid mosque shooting ‘Joint decision’ made to cancel Saturday’s test match against New Zealand

‘Panic everywhere’ as members of team narrowly avoid mosque shooting

‘Joint decision’ made to cancel Saturday’s test match against New Zealand