The horror of the twin Christchurch mosque attacks Friday haunted the Bangladesh cricket team but while checking in their flight to go home at the airport Saturday, wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said, “We still love New Zealand.”
The Bangladesh team narrowly escaped the terror attacks and immediately turned their attention to returning home to unite with their families.
The team had gone to the Al Noor Mosque for Friday prayers in the afternoon, where the shooting spree began minutes earlier.
The whole team escaped the scene and rushed back to the hotel, feeling frightened and frustrated.
They were due to play with New Zealand's Black Caps near Hagley Park, located in the area where the mass shooting took place.
The third and final Test match, scheduled for Saturday, was later called off.
Families of the @BCBtigers cricketers have demanded foolproof security arrangements when the team are on away tours.https://t.co/wMGWf4K3Ca#CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BCBTIGERS #TIGERS #BCB #NEWZEALAND #NZC #KIWIS #NEW #ZEALAND #BANGLADESHCRICKETTEAM #CHRISTCHURCH
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 16, 2019
The attacks in two mosques in central Christchurch have killed at least 49 people and injured 48 others.
At the Singapore Airlines check-in counter, players of the Bangladesh team all looked serious and edgy.
They were queuing to have their luggage checked, looking around constantly to confirm safety.
The Christchurch International Airport has upgraded its security with at least three heavily armed policemen at the departure terminal and several aviation security personnel standing by.
Seemingly to be the last player to get onboard the plane, Mushfiq was interviewed by Xinhua News Agency.
He offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attacks.
The @BCBtigers cricket team are on their way back to Dhaka, following terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch.https://t.co/TO2jUbT1pM#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #KIWIS #NEWZEALAND #NEWZEALANDCRICKET #NZC #NEW #ZEALAND #BANGLADESHTEAM
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 16, 2019
He still felt surreal to encounter such impossible attacks.
As a sportsman who had previously been to New Zealand, he still held the view that "New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world."
"We still love New Zealand," he added.
Asked whether the team had been offered support to cope with the massive shooting, Mushfiq said they considered themselves “lucky enough to escape,” although a sense of horror still haunted some.
All the Bangladesh players were escorted by heavily armed New Zealand police with loaded sub-machine guns to the entrance gate of the airport.
Due to the lack of direct flights between New Zealand and Bangladesh, the team will need to transfer in Singapore to go home.
