Post Christchurch: Two Bangladesh cricketers marry after surviving New Zealand mosque horror

Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman among 17 Bangladesh players driven up to mosque as shooting began

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 20, 2019 Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz reacts during the third one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at University Oval in Dunedin. Two Bangladeshi cricketers who along with the rest of the squad narrowly survived last week's mosque attacks in New Zealand are getting married, they and family members said on March 22.
 / AFP / Marty MELVILLE
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Two Bangladeshi cricketers who narrowly escaped last week's deadly mosque attacks in New Zealand have married their fiancees.

Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman were among 17 members of the Bangladesh Test cricket team touring New Zealand who were driven up to a Christchurch mosque as the shooting began.

They later watched as blood-soaked victims staggered from the building, according to team manager Khaled Mashud, who said if they had arrived just a few minutes later the team could have been caught up in the massacre.

Off-spinner Mehidy announced that he had married his long-term sweetheart Rabeya Akhter Priti on Thursday in a ceremony in the southwestern Bangladeshi city of Khulna.

"I am starting a new journey in my life today. I would like to request the blessings of all my fans and well wishers for my new beginning. May the Rahmat of Allah always shower upon us," Mehidy said in his official Facebook page.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 16, 2019 Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman bowls during the second one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Two Bangladeshi cricketers who along with the rest of the squad narrowly survived last week's mosque attacks in New Zealand are getting married, they and family members said on March 22.
 / AFP / Marty MELVILLE
(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 16, 2019 Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman bowls during the second one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Two Bangladeshi cricketers who along with the rest of the squad narrowly survived last week's mosque attacks in New Zealand are getting married, they and family members said on March 22. / AFP / Marty MELVILLE

'The Fizz' gets married

Meanwhile, pace bowler Rahman married his cousin, psychology student Samia Parvin Shimu, in their rural home on Friday, his brother told AFP.

"We were looking for a suitable time for his marriage... Now if it can help him overcome the shock, we will be really happy," Mahfuzur Rahman said.

The team were in Christchurch for their third and final Test match against the home side scheduled to begin last Saturday, which was promptly cancelled to allow the cricketers to return home.

Fifty people died in attacks on two mosques in Christchurch in what is believed to be the worst assault on Muslims in a Western country. Five Bangladeshis were among those killed.