New Zealand, Bangladesh Test cancelled after attacks

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand and Bangladesh on Friday cancelled the third cricket Test after gun attacks on mosques, including one that was attended by the Bangladeshi team.

"A joint decision between NZC and the @BCBtigers has been made to cancel the Hagley Oval Test," the New Zealand team tweeted, adding that all players and officials were safe. The third and final Test was scheduled to start on Saturday (today) at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. New Zealand won the first two games in the series.

Bangladeshi players and team staff arrived at the city’s Masjid al Noor for Friday prayers as a shooting unfolded and were warned not to go inside. "We are shocked and appalled, as I’m sure all New Zealanders are," NZ Cricket chief executive David White told TVNZ.

"I have spoken to my counterpart in Bangladesh and we both agree that it’s inappropriate to play cricket at this time." Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s cricket board head said that its players will now only travel with proper security assurances.

"The security arrangement (in Christchurch) was nowhere near what we usually provide. It’s not just here, wherever we go, we don’t get that much security," Nazmul Hassan said in Dhaka.

Starting Friday, he added: "We need to be assured about minimum security... otherwise it’s not possible to go." Team manager Khaled Mashud said the 17 players and support staff were safe, but said they could easily have been caught up in the shooting.

"We were very close, we could see the mosque. We were maximum 50 yards (45 metres) away... If we were there three to four minutes earlier, we would have been in the mosque," Mashud told reporters.

Nazmul urged cricketing authorities across the globe to change the perception about security. "We have always maintained that this kind of incident can happen to any country. Every country has to be careful. Every team has to be alerted," he said.

Australia’s cricket team boycotted a tour in Bangladesh in 2015 citing a lack of security. The International Cricket Council (ICC) in a press release offered condolences to the affected families.

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this horrendous incident in Christchurch. Both teams, staff and match officials are safe and the ICC fully supports the decision to cancel the Test match.”