''We r extremely lucky''
The Bangladesh international cricket team narrowly escaped the terrorist attack on a mosque in Christchurch, as they were headed to pray ahead of their third Test match against hosts New Zealand.
Members of the national team wanted to visit the Al Noor Mosque in the centre of the city for Friday prayers, according to the Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star.
When the players were about to enter the Muslim place of worship, a woman warned them that there was shooting inside.
As a result, the athletes reportedly took cover on the floor of their bus.
At least 49 people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after attackers targeted two mosques in Christchurch.
Bangladeshi cricketer Tamim Iqbal said that the entire national team had been at the mosque.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
"Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers," he wrote on Twitter.
"Allah save[d] us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque ... we r extremely lucky ... never want to see this things happen again .... pray for us," his teammate Mushfiqur Rahim wrote on Twitter.
The mosque they wanted to attend is located near the Hagley Oval Cricket Ground, where the Test match was supposed to take place before it was cancelled.
