‘Everything changes now’ – cricket boss
New Zealand Cricket boss David White has described the Christchurch mass shootings as a gamechanger for hosting international sport in this country.
The third cricket test between New Zealand and Bangladesh, scheduled to start at Hagley Oval today, was called off yesterday following shootings at two mosques in Christchurch that have left as many as 30 feared dead.
A decision had also been made to cancel the two remaining fixtures between the New Zealand development team and Australia under-19 women’s team that were due to take place over the weekend at Lincoln’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
Bangladesh players had just arrived outside at the Masjid Al Noor Mosque for Friday prayer when a gunman opened fire, with video showing several team members and media escaping the scene through South Hagley Park for the safety of Hagley Oval.
White had been in constant contact with Bangladesh Cricket chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury yesterday. He said there was ‘‘no other consideration’’ about the third test being cancelled.
‘‘I’ve spoken to my counterpart in Bangladesh [Chowdhury] and we agree it’s inappropriate to play cricket at this time. It was a very simple decision.’’
Cricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent Mohammad Isam posted a video to Twitter of the team rushing through South Hagley Park away from the mosque.
Once the Bangladesh players arrived at Hagley Oval, White said they were housed in a secure lockdown area until the team bus picked them up and took them to their hotel.
White labelled the attacks ‘‘appalling’’ and ‘‘shocking’’ and believed it would be a game-changer for security around New Zealand sports teams and events in this country, but also overseas.
‘‘This is shocking. This will change the entire fabric of international sports hosting. Everything changes now.
‘‘We’ll certainly be having to look at our security in depth. I think the
idea of New Zealand being a safe haven is gone now.
‘‘We now have to be very, very vigilant – all the authorities and sporting organisations, absolutely.’’
The third test in Christchurch was the final event of New Zealand’s home summer of cricket with the Black Caps already having clinched the test series 2-0.
White said NZC was working to get the Bangladesh players and officials on a flight home as soon as possible. The out-of-town Black Caps would also be travelling home to their families as quickly as could be arranged.
Both sides were in lockdown in secure areas at their respective accommodation yesterday afternoon.
White had been in contact with the New Zealand squad and said the players were distressed by the news of the shootings.
‘‘They’re shaken up all right. They’re shocked like everyone else.’’