5.7-Magnitude Earthquake Halts Bangladesh vs Ireland Test Match, Kills 6 in Dhaka

On Friday, November 21, 2025, at 10:08 a.m. IST, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Dhaka during the third day of the Bangladesh vs Ireland Test match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The tremor, centered just 13 kilometers south-southwest of Narsingdi at a shallow 10-kilometer depth, sent spectators scrambling, players freezing mid-pitch, and commentary boxes rocking visibly. Play stopped for three minutes as the Cricket Ireland team and officials evacuated the dressing rooms, unsure whether the shaking was a structural failure or something far worse.

Cricket Stopped Mid-Innings, Panic in the Stands

The quake struck during the 55th over of Ireland’s first innings, with the visitors at 165 for 5. Fans in the stands screamed as chairs rattled and the stadium’s overhead canopy swayed. On-air commentators could be heard shouting over the din — one even joked, "That wasn’t the spin, that was the earth." A viral video showed the commentary booth shaking violently, the camera operator barely keeping the frame steady. Heinrich Malan, Ireland’s head coach and a veteran of New Zealand’s seismic zones, later said: "I’ve been through quakes before, but never on a cricket field. You don’t know if it’s over. You look at your teammates, you look at the crowd, and you wonder — is this the end of the game, or the start of something worse?"

Players huddled near the boundary rope, some clutching helmets, others staring at the ground as if expecting another jolt. The International Cricket Council (ICC) Asia account quickly posted a video with the simple plea: "Hope everyone is safe." Within minutes, match officials declared the pitch safe, and play resumed — but the atmosphere had changed. The usual rhythm of Test cricket was gone. The sound of leather on willow now felt fragile.

Deadly Fallout in the City, Miraculous Safety at the Ground

While the stadium escaped unscathed, Dhaka was not so lucky. DBC Television confirmed at least six deaths in the capital: three people crushed by collapsing building roofs, and three pedestrians killed when decorative railings gave way on elevated walkways. Hospitals reported a surge in minor injuries — cuts, bruises, sprains from panicked falls — but no mass casualties. The tremors were felt as far as Kolkata, where residents described swaying curtains and rattling windows, but no structural damage.

It’s a chilling reminder: the stadium, built to international standards with reinforced concrete and seismic dampers, held firm. But outside its gates, aging infrastructure in Dhaka’s densely packed neighborhoods — many built without modern codes — proved deadly. The earthquake’s shallow depth amplified the shaking, turning minor cracks into fatal collapses. "It’s not the size of the quake that kills," said Dr. Ayesha Rahman, a structural engineer at Dhaka University. "It’s what’s built on top of it. And in this city, too much is built on shaky ground."

Cricket Resumes, Bangladesh Seizes Control

After the pause, Ireland’s innings collapsed under the weight of nerves and a turning pitch. They were bowled out for 265 — 12 runs short of forcing Bangladesh to follow on. Lorcan Tucker fought bravely with 71 not out, but the team’s middle order failed to capitalize. Bangladesh, sensing momentum, chose not to enforce the follow-on. Instead, they batted through the remainder of the day, with openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy (60) and Shadman Islam (69*) building a 156-run partnership without loss. By stumps, Bangladesh led by 367 runs, on course for a 2-0 series sweep.

The match, originally a symbolic contest between a Test newcomer and an emerging Asian side, had become a story of resilience — both on and off the field. The players’ composure after the quake was praised, but the real hero was the stadium’s design. "The ground held," said match referee Roshan Mahanama. "That’s the real win today. The game can be resumed. Lives can’t be.

Why This Matters Beyond Cricket

This wasn’t just a cricket interruption. It was a wake-up call. Bangladesh sits on a tectonically active zone where the Indian Plate collides with the Eurasian Plate. Earthquakes are not rare — but major ones are often underestimated. The last significant quake here, in 2022, measured 5.3 and caused no deaths. This one, stronger and shallower, did. And it happened during a global sporting event, watched by millions.

For decades, Bangladesh has prioritized flood defenses over seismic safety. Buildings in Dhaka’s slums, schools, even hospitals, lack basic reinforcement. The Bangladesh National Building Code exists — but enforcement is patchy. The fact that the stadium survived while buildings in nearby neighborhoods collapsed reveals a stark inequality in safety standards. "We build stadiums for the world," said Dr. Farid Ahmed, a disaster risk specialist at the BRAC Institute. "But we don’t build homes for our people. That’s the tragedy."

What Comes Next?

Play resumes on Day 4 with Bangladesh in command. But the focus has shifted. Cricket fans are now asking: What if the quake had hit during a packed crowd? What if it had been a school? A hospital? The Bangladesh government has promised an emergency review of building codes in urban centers. The World Bank has offered technical support for seismic retrofitting. And the ICC is reportedly evaluating whether to include earthquake protocols in its match-day safety checklist.

For now, the scoreboard tells one story: Bangladesh leads by 367 runs. But the real score is written in the rubble of Dhaka’s alleys — and in the quiet relief of a stadium that stood firm.