The Women’s World Cup match between India and Pakistan was halted because of a flying-insect infestation which required the pitch to be fumigated mid-game.
The swarming bugs had been a problem since the start of the group match, with portable bug spray and towels, typically used for drying the ball, waved to clear the gathering insects.
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But with India 154 for four at the end of the 34th over, all players were made to leave the field, allowing a man in a gas mask to come on with an industrial-size and strength bug spray to try to clear the problem.
While there is nothing official in the ICC playing conditions legislating for the invasion of insects, there is some license given to umpires when it comes to signalling a dead ball.
The rule states that the official can do so if he or she considers that either side “has been disadvantaged by a person, animal or other object within the field of play”.
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The India batters repeatedly raised the problem to the umpire, and questions were raised about whether Harmanpreet Kaur was affected when she was out.
One of Pakistan’s substitute fielders arrived with a small aerosol can to try to alleviate the issue but it did not have the desired effect.
However, after the 15-minute delay when the players left the field, the industrial-strength bug spray did not seem to have a huge impact on the number of bugs that continued to swarm around the batters.
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There was a second, albeit significantly smaller, bug-related delay after play had resumed when one appeared to have flown into the eye of Rameen Shamim who was bowling at the time.
The players tried to use conventional spray to rid the ground of the insects before the experts were brought in – Getty Images/Ishara S Kodihara
Other matches have been disrupted by insects. At Lord’s in the summer on the first day of England’s Test match against India, a swarm of ladybirds briefly interrupted play after distracting batters Ben Stokes and Joe Root. But on that occasion, the swarm only lasted a few minutes and there were no further interruptions.
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At the start of the India-Pakistan match, which was held in Sri Lanka because of political tension, there was a moment of controversy when following the toss, which Pakistan won and elected to bowl, the players did not shake hands.
It carries on from the controversy at the recent men’s Asia Cup when India won and hoisted an imaginary trophy after refusing to accept the real thing from Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister.
The teams met three times in the Asia Cup, with India refusing to shake hands with their opponents throughout.
Cricket’s most bizarre stoppages
Pig on the pitch
Australia v England, fifth ODI, 1983
Some members of the Australian crowd managed to smuggle a pig into the match and release it onto the field in Brisbane. The pig in question had ‘Botham’ and ‘Eddie’ painted onto each of its sides, referring to two members of England’s team in Ian Botham and Eddie Hemmings.
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Good light stops play
Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, County Championship, Old Trafford, 2010
Manchester is not known for its weather, which made this delay in play in 2010 even more bizarre. Rain had stopped any play happening until 4pm and, an hour-and-a-half later, the players were taken off by the umpires because the sun’s glare from the roof of the commentary boxes was deemed to make conditions unplayable.
Barbecued ball
Boland v Border, Castle Cup, Paarl, 1995
South African batsman Daryll Cullinan hit a six in a Currie Cup match and the ball landed on a barbecue upon which calamari was being cooked. The game was then delayed by 10 minutes while the ball cooled down sufficiently for the umpires to clean it before ultimately replacing it.
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