Christchurch Test called off after Bangladesh cricketers narrowly escape shooting

New Zealand Cricket and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have jointly decided to call off the third Test match between the two teams after the mosque shootings in Christchurch. The Test was scheduled to be played from March 16 at the Hagley Oval in the city.

"We are shocked and appalled, as I'm sure all New Zealanders. I have spoken to my counterpart in Bangladesh and we both agree that it's inappropriate to play cricket at this time. We are offering support to all those within the teams affected by the situation and are continuing to take advice from authorities on the ground," NZC chief David White told TVNZ. 

According to the Reuters, the Bangladeshi cricketers were on a bus that was pulling up to the mosque near the stadium for Friday prayers when the shooting began but none of the cricketers was inside the mosque. 

After winning the three-match ODI series by 3-0, the hosts had defeated Bangladesh by big margins in the first two Tests in Hamilton and Wellington.