You've probably seen a cricket match paused because of rain, bad light or even a floodlight hiccup. But folks, those reasons are mere child’s play compared to the bizarre twists that we’re about to unveil! Buckle up, because here come the 6 most bizarre reasons a cricket game was brought to a screeching halt!
Bees Wreak Havoc in the World Cup
During the 2019 ODI World Cup match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, the entire stadium turned into a battlefield between man and nature. In the 48th over of Sri Lanka's innings, fielders, batters, and even the umpires were all forced to hit the deck—literally! Lying flat on the ground, everyone played dead in an attempt to dodge the buzzing invasion. Frankly, bee attacks aren’t that uncommon in cricket but this one was a swarm interruption that many won’t forget.
Flying Ants Halt Play
Insects and the Proteas seem to have a thing for each other! As if bees weren't enough of a buzz, enter the flying ants. Flying ants, yes, you read that right! In 2024, during a high-octane 3rd T20I between South Africa and India in Centurion, these tiny invaders turned the cricket pitch into their personal flying zone. The swarm was so huge that the umpires called a timeout, keeping players’ well-being in mind. Enter the superhero squad: groundsmen armed with drones spraying pesticides and super soppers clearing the chaos. The game did finally resume, but only after a 30-minute intermission.
The Hiss Hiccup
A dog or a cat strolling onto the cricket field? Totally normal. But what happened during a Lanka Premier League game in 2023? Well, the match turned ‘Hiss’toric when a massive snake slithered its way onto the pitch! The umpires had no choice but to call for a timeout while they figured out how to deal with this ‘wild’ interruption. With a bit of shooing, and maybe some charm, the reptile was finally escorted off, and the game resumed.
The Golden Break
Rain isn’t the only weather culprit that can halt a cricket match! In a truly bizarre turn of events in 2019, a New Zealand vs India ODI in Napier hit a pause when Shikhar Dhawan was literally blinded by the setting sun—talk about a bright interruption! The sunlight came streaming directly into his eyes, forcing a half-hour delay. And here's the kicker: it wasn’t even the first time the McLean Park had played host to a sun-induced timeout! Just two years earlier, a T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand had to be halted for the same reason, and even a Super Smash game in January 2019 wasn’t safe from the solar interruption. Seems like the sun’s got a real glare-ious history at that ground!
Pollution Panic
Talking about weather with a twist—Delhi’s pollution doesn’t just make it hard for the citizens to breathe, it can leave cricketers gasping for air too! During a 2017 Test match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Sri Lankan bowlers found themselves struggling to take in a breath of fresh air as the thick smog rolled in. The 3rd Test was interrupted multiple times as the umpires huddled with the match referee, team doctors, and physiotherapists to figure out what to do. In the end, the Sri Lankan players took ‘breathing easy’ to a whole new level—by donning face masks and fielding through the fog. Talk about playing through the haze!
Halal Hunger Halt
Bet you didn’t see this one coming! During the 2nd Test between South Africa and Bangladesh in 2024, lunch was extended by ten minutes when the visitors' Halal meal failed to arrive on time. The Bangladeshi players received food 10 minutes later than the scheduled time. The cause? An error in the food menu caused an hour-long delay. Guess you could say the players were ‘hungrier for runs’ than ever!
