India skipper Virat Kohli expressed grief over shooting at two mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand on Friday, forcing the cancellation of a test match between visitors Bangladesh against hosts New Zealand as both the sides were scheduled to lock horns in the third and final Test that on 16 March in Christchurch.
The deadly terror attack at two mosques in Christchurch took at least 40 lives and left at least 20 injured.
The Bangladesh team was on a bus that was approaching the Al Noor mosque on the eve of the third test at nearby Hagley Oval when the shooting began, bdnews24.com reports.
Mario Villavarayen, the team's strength and conditioning coach, said it was a close call.
"Their bus was just pulling up to the mosque when the shooting began," he said. "They are shaken." A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman said: "All our players are now safe... We have told them not to step out."
As soon as the news broke out, people from the cricketing fraternity took to their social media accounts to condemn the atrocity and offer condolences to the victims.
Here’re some reactions:
New Zealand Cricket said they had chosen to cancel the test, which was the final match of the tour, after discussions with the BCB.
"I spoke to my counterpart in Bangladesh and we agree it's inappropriate to play cricket at this time," chief executive David White told TVNZ.
"Arrangements are being made for the return of the Bangladesh team home as soon as possible," NZC said in a statement.
(With IANS inputs)