New Delhi:
The Christchurch shootings has been described as the ‘worst terror attack’ on New Zealand. The incident left 49 people dead and 30 were injured. The shootings resulted in the cancellation of the third Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Hagley Oval which was to begin on March 16. It also resulted in Canterbury not playing their final league game of the Plunket Shield, giving the title to Central Districts. The Rugby Super League games were also not held over the weekend. Cricketers from all across the globe and even the All Blacks rugby team players expressed their shock and horror of the incident on social media. Recently, Kane Williamson, the skipper of the New Zealand, has posted an emotional message on his Facebook page that has warmed the hearts of the fans.
Williamson posted a message stating, “Like the rest of New Zealand, I am struggling to understand what has happened today. The need for love in our country has never been higher and I send all of mine to the victims, their family and friends, the Muslim community and every other heartbroken New Zealander. Let’s come together.” The New Zealand skipper then posted an image with the hashtag #HelloBrother with the message ‘Standing in solidarity’. The silver fern cricket crest, which is seen in the Blackcaps cap during limited-overs cricket, was depicted with people bowing and paying their respect to the dead.
The third and final Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which was scheduled to be played on Saturday, was cancelled after multiple shootings in mosques in the city. The official Twitter handle of the New Zealand cricket team, @BLACKCAPS, tweeted that a joint decision was made. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by the shocking situation in Christchurch. A joint decision between NZC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board has been made to cancel the Hagley Oval Test. Again both teams and support staff groups are safe.”
A video tweeted by Bangladesh’s ESPNCricinfo correspondent Mohammad Isam showed the Bangladesh cricketers Tamim Iqbal and Taijul Islam running back from Hagley Park back to the cricket ground. The incident took place around 1.45pm local time when the team had gone to pray when the incident took place.
"It will certainly take some time for us to get out of it (the state of shock) after the experience we had here," Tamim told reporters at Christchurch airport moments before the team left for Bangladesh on Saturday. At least 17 members of the Bangladesh cricket team, including Tamim, drove up to the Masjid al Noor in a bus to join Friday prayers when the mosque came under attack by a gunman. Team manager Khaled Mashud said the players and staff on the bus watched as blood-soaked victims staggered from the building. They stayed in the bus for eight to 10 minutes before leaving it sensing danger, according to Mashud.
