Play at Mirpur paused briefly on the third morning after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the second Test between Bangladesh and Ireland. Umpires Ahsan Raza and Tanvir Ahmed gathered the players in the middle at 10.38 am local time, while spectators streamed out of the stands in understandable haste.
“It was the right call – safety comes first,” venue manager Mohammad Hanif told local television a few minutes later. Ground staff, stewards and media workers likewise headed for open spaces, with the five-storey press box emptying in seconds.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department located the epicentre near Madhabdi, roughly 40 km east of Dhaka, though some agencies recorded the shock at slightly lower intensity. Two buildings in the capital reportedly suffered structural damage; by late morning no casualties had been confirmed.
Tremors were also felt across the border in Kolkata, Guwahati and other parts of north-eastern India. The latter is due to host the India–South Africa Test from Saturday, so officials there will keep an eye on aftershock warnings.
Play resumed after a three-minute break once match referee Jeff Crowe was satisfied the concrete stands posed no immediate risk. Ireland, 137 for 5 overnight, moved to lunch on 211 for 7 in reply to Bangladesh’s 476. Mark Adair fell caught behind off Khaled Ahmed, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz accounted for Lorcan Tucker, flight and turn doing the trick.
Andy Balbirnie, unbeaten on 62 at the interval, admitted the interruption was unsettling. “I’ve never felt anything like that on a cricket field,” he said. “The lads did well to refocus once we were told it was safe.”
From Bangladesh’s perspective, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised the crowd for remaining calm. “People could easily have panicked more than they did,” he noted, “so credit to the supporters and the ground staff.”
With the pitch still offering occasional seam movement and just a hint of spin, the contest remains finely balanced. Yet, for a short spell, cricket took a back seat to more elemental forces – a reminder that even in the middle of a Test match, nature can still call the shots.
