Interim Bangladesh Test captain Mahmudullah was a relieved man after their arrival Saturday night from New Zealand, where they came perilously close to becoming the victims of terrorist attacks on two Christchurch mosques Friday afternoon.
In New Zealand’s worst ever mass shooting, 49 people were killed and 20 wounded during the Friday prayers.
At least 17 members of the Bangladesh cricket team drove up to Masjid Al Noor in a bus to join the prayers when the mosque came under attack by a gunman.
@BCBtigers cricket team returned home Saturday night from their tour of New Zealand, which was cut short after terrorist attacks at two Christchurch mosques in New Zealand Friday.https://t.co/rEZSbTb5vB#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #NEWZEALAND
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 16, 2019
They stayed in the bus for eight to 10 minutes before leaving it sensing danger.
“This incident was totally unexpected. No one wants to see such horrific events. We are really lucky as we are unscathed after such an incident,” said Mahmudullah.
“None of us could sleep at all [Friday night]. We were only thinking about what might have happened to us,” he added.
The horror of the twin Christchurch mosque attacks Friday haunted the @BCBtigers cricket team but while checking in their flight to go home at the airport Saturday, wicketkeeper-batsman @mushfiqur15 said, “We still love New Zealand.”https://t.co/JlvX2Yqy6g#BCBTIGERS #BCB #NZC
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 16, 2019
The all-rounder thanked BCB president Nazmul Hasan and urged the countrymen to pray for them so that they can recover from this deadly turn of events.
“We thank BCB and Papon (Nazmul) bhai. They brought us home quickly. We want prayers from our countrymen. We want them to pray for us,” said the 33-year old.
The BCB supremo advised the cricketers to take things easy, and told them to spend quality time with their families.
Nazmul said the players should only return to competitive action once they have overcome this mental shock.