Play was forced to stop mid-delivery as a powerful earthquake jolted Dhaka, freezing a Test match and sending players and fans scrambling for safety.
The clash between Bangladesh and Ireland was halted for three minutes on the third morning of the second Test after tremors struck at 10.38am local time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Players and umpires gathered near the pitch while spectators rushed for open areas as the stands quickly emptied.
Both dressing rooms were evacuated almost immediately as the shaking intensified, with officials ushering players onto the outfield while the crowd moved towards exits or the centre of the ground for safety.
The media centre, a five-storey structure at the north end, was also cleared as staff fled to secure spaces.
The earthquake measured 5.7 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre in Madhabdi, around 40 kilometres east of Dhaka. There were early reports of at least two damaged buildings in the capital, though casualties were initially unconfirmed according to reports.
The clash between Bangladesh and Ireland was halted for three minutes on the third morning of the second Test
Footage from inside the stadium showed television cameras shaking violently as players left the field and officials waited for the tremors to pass before deciding whether conditions were safe to resume.
The crowd remained subdued as announcements were made and security staff monitored the situation closely.
Play eventually resumed after the brief delay, with Ireland losing two further wickets before lunch to slip to 211 for 7 in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 476.
The match continued under heightened awareness, with players and umpires instructed to report immediately if any further tremors were felt.
The same earthquake caused widespread disruption across the Bangladeshi capital and surrounding regions.
According to published reports, several people were killed and dozens injured after buildings were damaged and debris fell onto busy streets during the shaking in the late morning.
At least six people died in Dhaka, with three killed when part of a building roof and wall collapsed, and three pedestrians fatally injured after building railings fell onto them. Residents were seen fleeing their homes as buildings swayed and structures began to crack.
One Dhaka resident, Suman Rahman, described the scenes, telling Daily Mail: ‘We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking like trees. Staircases were jammed as people rushed down. Everyone was terrified, children were crying.’
Footage posted on social media showed how a building was left tilted by the tremors in Dhaka on Friday
The 5.7-magnitude quake hit at 10:38 am near the city of Narsingdi, about 16 miles from the capital of Dhaka
Shaking was also reported in India’s eastern states, including West Bengal and parts of the north-east, with tremors felt in Kolkata and Guwahati. The US Geological Survey warned of potentially ‘significant casualties’ and damage given the region’s population density.
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, urged calm as authorities assessed the scale of the destruction.
In a statement, he said: ‘Everyone is urged to remain alert and not pay attention to any kind of rumours or misinformation.’
