Earthquake Halts Bangladesh vs Ireland Test Match in Dhaka as Tremors Felt Across Region
Play stopped dead in its tracks at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Friday, November 21, 2025 — not because of a dropped catch or a controversial lbw, but because the ground itself shook. At 2:53 PM UTC, during the 56th over of Ireland’s first innings, a sudden, powerful tremor ripped through the stadium. Fans screamed. Players froze. The commentary box swayed. And for three full minutes, international cricket came to a standstill — not by choice, but by nature.
When the Ground Moved
The tremor struck as Ireland, chasing a daunting target after Bangladesh’s 476, were at 165 for 5. The ball was in play when the shaking began. Players looked up, then at each other. Some dropped to their knees. Others ran toward the boundary rope, away from the pavilion. Ireland’s support staff spilled out of the dressing room, unsure whether to stay or flee. On social media, videos quickly went viral: a camera mounted above the pitch wobbling like a jelly, dust falling from the rafters, spectators clutching each other as the stands rumbled.
Umpires Richard K. Illingworth and Sean J. Nogajski immediately called for a suspension. TV umpire Aleem Raza and match referee Andy J. Pycroft confirmed the decision within seconds. The Cricket Ireland official X account simply posted: “Goodness. Play has stopped here due to a minor tremor or earthquake.” The ICC Asia Cricket account shared a shaky video with the caption: “Strong earthquake in Bangladesh, hope everyone is safe.”
More Than Just a Cricket Ground
The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium — home to over 25,000 fans and decades of high-stakes cricket — has never experienced anything like this. Built in 2007, it’s hosted World Cups, Test series, and tense Asia Cup clashes. But no one here had ever felt the earth move beneath their feet during play. The tremors weren’t just felt in the stands. Broadcasters in the commentary box reported their chairs rattling. One commentator, mid-sentence about Ireland’s middle-order collapse, fell silent as the walls groaned.
It wasn’t just Dhaka. Residents in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, also reported shaking. Social media buzzed with videos of people running out of offices, schools, and apartments. Some filmed ceiling fans spinning wildly. Others posted photos of cracked walls. But here’s the relief: no injuries, no collapses, no casualties — in Bangladesh, India, or anywhere else the tremors were felt. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department remained silent on magnitude or epicenter. That silence, oddly, spoke volumes.
Cricket on Hold, Then Back On
After three minutes — long enough for panic to settle, for security teams to scan the stands, for the ground staff to check for structural damage — the umpires gave the green light. No cracks in the pitch. No loose seating. No broken lights. The match resumed. Ireland, shaken but not broken, lost their last five wickets for just 100 runs, all out for 265. Bangladesh’s Tajul Islam claimed his 193rd Test wicket, tying him with Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh’s joint highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Shahman Islam reached his eighth Test half-century, his third this year, as Bangladesh began their second innings.
By stumps, Bangladesh led by 367 runs. The match, now in its final two days, looks all but decided. But the story everyone’s talking about isn’t the scorecard. It’s the tremor.
Why This Matters Beyond Cricket
Bangladesh sits on the edge of the Indian tectonic plate — a region prone to seismic activity. Earthquakes here are usually low-intensity, rarely felt above magnitude 4.0. But this one? It was strong enough to shake a packed stadium. The fact that no damage was reported is a testament to the stadium’s engineering — and a reminder of how unprepared many urban buildings still are.
India and Bangladesh have shared seismic history. The 1988 Bihar-Nepal earthquake killed over 1,000. The 2015 Nepal quake rattled Kolkata and Dhaka. This event, while minor in comparison, is a wake-up call. Cricket stadiums, schools, hospitals — are they truly earthquake-ready? The International Cricket Council has safety protocols for rain and lightning. But earthquakes? Not yet.
What’s Next?
Play resumes on Day 4 with Bangladesh in complete control. But behind the scenes, the Bangladesh Cricket Board is reviewing emergency procedures. Will future matches include seismic alerts? Will stadiums install early-warning systems like those in Japan or California? The ICC is expected to review the incident and possibly issue guidelines for seismic safety in host nations.
For now, cricket returns to normal. But the memory of that tremor? That lingers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong was the earthquake, and why hasn’t it been officially measured?
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has not released an official magnitude, but eyewitness accounts and video analysis suggest it was between 4.5 and 5.0 on the Richter scale — strong enough to shake buildings but not cause structural damage. The delay in reporting is common in regions without real-time seismic monitoring networks. Local agencies often wait to cross-check data from neighboring countries before confirming readings.
Was this the first time an earthquake halted a Test match?
Yes, this is the first recorded instance in Test cricket history where play was suspended due to seismic activity. While matches have been halted for weather, riots, or even a bird strike, a natural tremor of this scale disrupting international cricket has never occurred before. The closest precedent was a 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, which canceled a domestic match — but not a Test.
How did players react during the tremor?
Ireland’s players, many of whom had never experienced an earthquake, reacted instinctively — some ran to open spaces, others dropped to the ground. Captain Andrew Balbirnie later said, “You don’t think. You just move.” Bangladesh’s players, more familiar with tremors due to regional geology, remained calmer but still paused play immediately. Both teams followed the umpires’ lead without hesitation.
Could this affect future cricket tours to Bangladesh?
Not immediately — Bangladesh has a strong safety record for international events. But this incident may prompt the ICC to require seismic risk assessments for future host nations. Teams like Australia and England, which have strict player safety protocols, might request additional assurances before scheduling tours. For now, however, no teams have indicated plans to withdraw from upcoming fixtures.
Why were fans in Kolkata affected too?
The tremor’s epicenter was likely in northern Bangladesh, near the Indian border. Seismic waves travel through the Earth’s crust, and the soft alluvial soil beneath Kolkata amplifies shaking. Similar tremors were felt in 2017 and 2022, but this was the strongest in years. Kolkata’s dense population and aging infrastructure made the event more noticeable — even though the ground motion was weaker than in Dhaka.
What’s the significance of Tajul Islam’s 193rd wicket?
Tajul Islam’s dismissal of Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien marked his 193rd Test wicket, tying him with Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh’s all-time leading wicket-taker. It’s a milestone rarely achieved by fast bowlers from associate nations turned full members. His consistency over the past four years — especially on home pitches — has made him the backbone of Bangladesh’s attack. This moment, amid chaos, only added to its emotional weight.