Colombo, Sri Lanka – In a bizarre turn of events at the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, the high-stakes match between India and Pakistan was temporarily halted due to an unexpected invasion of insects. The incident occurred during the first innings of the game in Colombo, leaving players and fans in disbelief.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field, sending India in to bat first. The Indian innings progressed steadily, but around the 34th over, a massive swarm of flies and bugs descended upon the R. Premadasa Stadium, creating a distracting and uncomfortable environment for everyone on the field.
Umpires were forced to call for a 15-minute break as players from both sides retreated from the field to escape the overwhelming surge of insects. The scenes were described as comical, with Pakistan's captain, Fatima Sana, initially attempting to manage the situation by using a bug spray. However, the initial efforts proved futile, leading to a more comprehensive intervention.
Ground staff, equipped with respiration masks and bug fogging machines, rushed onto the field to fumigate the area and clear the insects. The on-air commentators humorously noted that this was the first time they had witnessed a cricket match being halted for fumigation, having previously seen delays caused by bees, sandstorms, and even dragonflies.
Despite the fumigation break, the insect problem persisted to some degree. After play resumed, India lost Jemimah Rodrigues in the first over. Sneh Rana was also seen waving her hands around, attempting to keep the bugs at bay.
The interruption added an unusual twist to an already highly anticipated match. Prior to the game, tensions were palpable as Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur refrained from shaking hands with her Pakistani counterpart, Fatima Sana, a decision reportedly instructed by the BCCI, mirroring a similar protocol during the recent Asia Cup.
India holds a dominant 11-0 record against Pakistan in ODIs. In their last encounter, during the 2022 World Cup, India emerged victorious by 107 runs.
After the match resumed, India struggled to regain its momentum, with Jemimah Rodrigues falling quickly. Sneh Rana's slow scoring rate also drew criticism.
The interruption due to the bug infestation is certainly one of the more unusual occurrences in recent cricket history. While rain delays are common, a swarm of insects causing a halt to play is a rare and bizarre event.
