Snake invasion and floodlight fire in PSL (Source: X)
Cricket’s unpredictable nature has time and again given birth to countless memorable moments on the field. From breathtaking catches to high-scoring thrillers, skilful batting to strategic bowling, this sport never fails to entertain.
Adding to the same amusement, cricket matches have often been unexpectedly halted or called off for highly unusual reasons, ranging from animal invasions, such as swarming bees and snakes, to strange incidents, such as fires and dangerous pitches.
That being said, in this article, let’s take a look at the five bizarre reasons that stopped a cricket match or forced an early abandonment.
Strange Reasons Why Cricket Matches Were Unexpectedly Halted
5) Floodlights Caught On Fire: PSL 2023 Opening game
During the opening ceremony of the 2023 Pakistan Super League (PSL) on February 13, 2023, a floodlight tower at the Multan International Cricket Stadium caught fire.
It was later declared that fireworks and pyrotechnics used during the opening ceremony ignited the wiring on one of the floodlight pillars. The fire brigade was called to the venue immediately and extinguished the flames.
The opening fixture between the Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars was delayed by about 30 minutes, but no one was injured during the incident.
Once play resumed, the Lahore Qalandars won the match in a thrilling 1-run victory, defending their total of 175.
4) Bees Took Over the Stadium: SA vs SL 2019 ODI World Cup
A massive swarm of bees temporarily halted the 2019 ICC World Cup match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on June 28, 2019. In the 48th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, players and officials took evasive action and lay flat on the ground to avoid being stung.
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In a comical display, at first it appeared that Chris Morris was just doing his rituals when he was shown doing some warm-up push-ups while lying on the ground, but later, when the camera rolled on to the other parts of the field, all the members were seen lying on the ground.
Lastly, the match resumed after a brief stoppage, with South Africa ultimately securing a comfortable nine-wicket victory.
3) Match abandoned due to dangerous pitch: IND vs SL (December 2009)
The fifth ODI between India and Sri Lanka on December 27, 2009, at the Feroz Shah Kotla (now Arun Jaitley Stadium) in New Delhi was abandoned after just 23.3 overs because the pitch was declared dangerously unsafe. Sri Lanka struggled for 83 for 5 before the umpires called the game off.
The surface produced extremely variable and unpredictable bounce, with balls flying dangerously toward the batter’s faces or remaining remarkably low. Several Sri Lankan players were hit by deliveries.
Captains MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara, alongside the umpires and match referee, officially halted the match and abandoned it.
Fans in the stadium threw billboards and other debris to protest the early abandonment, though a ticket refund was later offered. The fallout was severe for the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which faced global embarrassment.
2) Snake Rattled Onto the Field: IND vs SA 2nd T20I (October 2022)
On October 2, 2022, the second T20I between India and Sri Lanka was strangely interrupted by a snake, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. However, the match was resumed after a couple of minutes.
During the match, a couple of South African players pointed it out to KL Rahul and the on-field umpires. The ground staff then rushed in with the necessary equipment and sorted the problem in just 2 minutes.
While there were expectations of rain during the match, it was the snake that took all the highlights in the seventh over of India’s innings as the match was put on hold temporarily.
1) Team Bus Stuck In Traffic: IND vs ENG 5th T20I (July 2026)
The start of the 5th T20I between India and England on July 11, 2026, was delayed by 30-45 minutes because the Indian team’s bus got caught in heavy traffic en route to the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The squad arrived late, forcing officials to push back the toss and the proceeding match times.
The late arrivals significantly compressed India’s preparation window, potentially impacting readiness in a must-win game to avoid a whitewash. Fans faced uncertainty about start times, as broadcasters adjusted schedules to accommodate the delay.
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