Vishvas Gupta in Cricket aGE, 21 March 2019, with this title ” Christchurch shooting: NZ sports minister hopes Bangladesh cricket team returns in future”
Police escort witnesses away from a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. Multiple people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques full of people attending Friday prayers, as New Zealand police warned people to stay indoors as they tried to determine if more than one gunman was involved. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
“New Zealand sports minister Grant Robertson on Friday expressed hopes that Bangladesh’s cricketers and supporters continue to feel safe to return to the country, after their narrow escape from the Christchurch mosque terror attack. Speaking at the New Zealand Cricket’s awards on Thursday evening in Auckland, Robertson said that he had written a letter to the Bangladesh Minister of Youth and Sport and the Bangladesh Cricket Board president expressing relief that the players and the staff members all safely returned home.
“Violence and hatred shown by one individual must not be allowed to destroy the friendship and respect that the New Zealand and Bangladesh cricket teams and our nations have long shared” Speaking at the New Zealand Cricket’s awards on Thursday evening in Auckland, Robertson said.
“My hope is that in time the players and supporters will feel safe enough to return to New Zealand and I know that they know that they will be welcomed with open arms,” he said.
Robertson further added that he hopes that cricket will play a crucial role in bringing the country together. “There is hope to be found in dark days and cricket and sport will once again play a critical role in drawing together our country at this time.”