Earthquake leaves unsettling effect in Mirpur Test

Lorcan Tucker and Stephen Dohany had put on good resistance in the first hour of the morning session of day three as Bangladesh struggled for wickets in the second Test. At 10:38 am, during 55.2 overs of the Ireland innings, the earthquake hit, leaving people unsettled.

Members of the media, troubled by the vibration and sound at the press box, went downstairs to find open grounds. The players in the arena felt it too. Play was stopped for three minutes from 10:38 am till 10:41 as the two umpires gathered together. Many of the Irish and Bangladesh players were gathered together under the open skies, looking upwards and appeared to check whether anyone can catch the movement of the floodlights above.

Spinner Hasan Murad was seen sitting down as players waited for the earthquake to die down which lasted quite a few seconds. At the gallery, fans waited with worried faces, some calling family members once the vibrations died down.

Ireland players gathered near the away dugout of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket stadium. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Even members of the coaching staff who were moving from the Academy Ground towards the dressing room, were reportedly worried as the scenario unfolded.

One BCB official who was positioned close to the dressing rooms, told this newspaper: "The walls were shaking. It felt pretty big and we were worried."

The players pretty much gathered close to the dressing rooms but after the earthquake stopped, things progressed as before as play resumed after the three-minute break.

A few among the media personnel refused to head upstairs right away after the earthquake as it took time for nerves to settle in the first session of the third day's play in the second Test between Bangladesh and Ireland.