A thrilling Test match between Bangladesh and Ireland came to an unexpected pause on Friday when earthquake tremors shook the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. The rare natural phenomenon interrupted play temporarily, creating a moment of tension and concern for players and spectators alike.
Match Interrupted by Seismic Activity
The incident occurred at approximately 10:08 am IST when the Irish team was batting at 165/5 in the ongoing Test match. As the ground began to shake, officials made the immediate decision to halt play for safety reasons. Cricket Ireland promptly announced the development on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, stating: "Goodness. Play has stopped here due to a minor tremor/earthquake."
The seismic event was confirmed to be a magnitude 5.7 earthquake by the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). According to geological data, the epicentre was located approximately 13 km south-southwest of Narsingdi in Bangladesh, occurring at a relatively shallow depth of 10 km. The United States Geological Survey provided similar coordinates, placing the epicentre near Narsingdi city, about 40 km east of Dhaka.
Panic and Response in Dhaka
The earthquake caused significant alarm throughout Bangladesh's capital city. Reuters witnesses reported that residents rushed out of their homes and offices as buildings shook noticeably. Some makeshift structures reportedly collapsed under the force of the tremors, though no major damage or casualties were immediately reported by authorities.
Sadman Sakib, an employee at a private firm in Dhaka, described the frightening experience: "I have never felt such a tremor in my life. We were at the office when the furniture started shaking. We rushed down the stairs on the street and saw other people on the road already."
Local media coverage showed images of concerned citizens carrying children and assisting elderly family members to safety as the tremors created widespread panic across affected areas. The earthquake's effects were also felt in eastern Indian states that share borders with Bangladesh, though similar reports indicated no significant damage on the Indian side.
Not the First Earthquake During Cricket
This isn't the first time an earthquake has coincided with an international cricket match. In 2022, a similar incident occurred during a match between Ireland and Zimbabwe at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. That earthquake, measuring 5.2 magnitude, caused the commentary box and cameras to shake noticeably.
Interestingly, during that previous incident, play continued uninterrupted as the players remained unaware of the seismic activity. Ireland spinner Matthew Humphreys was bowling to Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett when front-on cameras began shaking, yet the match proceeded without official intervention.
The temporary suspension of the Bangladesh-Ireland Test match highlights the unpredictable nature of sporting events and how external factors can influence professional games. Cricket authorities and ground staff handled the situation with appropriate caution, prioritizing the safety of everyone present at the stadium.
After ensuring the stadium's structural integrity and confirming the tremors had subsided, match officials were expected to resume play following standard safety protocols. The incident added an unexpected chapter to the growing cricket rivalry between Bangladesh and Ireland.
