Tremors Interrupt Cricket in Dhaka
On Day 3 of the second Test between Bangladesh and Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, play was temporarily suspended after a powerful earthquake shook the ground. The 5.5–5.7 magnitude tremor, centred near Madhabdi on the outskirts of Dhaka, sent fans into a panic and forced players, umpires, and media to seek safety.
Chaos in the Stands and Press Box
The quake struck during the 56th over of Ireland’s first innings, prompting immediate disruption. According to match reports, the media centre — a five-storey building — was quickly evacuated as the press box shook violently.Spectators visibly panicked, with some leaving the stadium and others moving to more open areas.Ireland’s players emerged from the dressing rooms and gathered close to the boundary rope, while umpires and officials remained in the centre of the field.
Journalist Mohammad Isam, reporting from the scene, wrote on social media: “We ran down from the press box, which was shaking tremendously.” Another reporter, Ariful Islam Roney, called the situation “terrifying” when describing the collapse of parts of the press box.
Play Resumes After Short Pause
After roughly three minutes, the tremors subsided and play resumed. By lunch, Ireland had lost two further wickets and were 211 for 7, trailing Bangladesh’s first innings total of 476.Earlier in the match, Bangladesh had piled up that total with key centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das, who stitched together a vital 123-run partnership.
Wider Impact Beyond the Stadium
The quake’s effects were not limited to the stadium. Tremors were felt in neighbouring regions, including Kolkata in India, according to reports.Local media in Bangladesh also reported structural damage in Dhaka, though inside the stadium there were no immediate reports of injury.
Officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reacted swiftly, sharing safety measures for earthquakes and emergency contact numbers on social media. A BCB official noted that walls were visibly trembling during the quake, underlining how real the danger felt inside the stadium.
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