Flying ants, toxic smog, eclipse: Weirdest incidents that stopped cricket matches

During a Pink ODI match between South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2017, a swarm of bees descended upon the field, causing a temporary disruption. Players were forced to lie down on the field to avoid being stung, while ground staff swiftly intervened with vacuum cleaners and pesticides to clear the bees. This unexpected incident resulted in a delay of approximately one hour before the game could resume.

The Test match between India and Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in December 2017 was repeatedly delayed due to hazardous pollution levels in Delhi. The thick smog forced Sri Lankan players on the field to wear masks, and two players, Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal, were unable to continue playing as they struggled to breathe.

The 1998 India vs Australia match in Sharjah is widely remembered for the dominating performance of Sachin Tendulkar against the Australian bowlers. However, the match was also marked by a significant interruption known as the Desert Storm, which halted play for nearly half an hour. During India's chase of 285 runs, the players were forced to seek shelter as a sandstorm swept through the stadium, causing chaos on the field. 

The 2023 World Cup in India experienced a unique occurrence during the match between India and New Zealand in Dharamsala, when play was halted due to dense fog. As India was chasing a target of 274 runs, visibility on the field was severely impacted by the fog. Consequently, the umpires made the decision to temporarily suspend the game until the fog cleared and conditions improved, allowing the match to resume.

During an ODI match between India and New Zealand in Napier in 2019, play was temporarily halted due to the blinding sunlight affecting the batters. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan raised concerns to the umpires about the direct sunlight obstructing his vision, rendering it impossible for him to see clearly. The match was paused for over 30 minutes until the lighting conditions improved.

During the third T20I match between India and South Africa in Centurion, play was interrupted by a swarm of flying ants. The presence of a large number of ants caused a disturbance for the players on the field, leading the umpires to halt the game after the first over of South Africa's innings. Groundsmen were called in to clear the playing field, and after a brief delay of 15-20 minutes, the match was able to resume.

In 1980, a total solar eclipse led to the most delayed cricket match in history, resulting in the abandonment of the second day of a Test match between India and England in Mumbai.

The commencement of the second session on Day 1 of the Test match between South Africa and Bangladesh was postponed by 10 minutes due to a delay in the delivery of the halal food intended for the visiting team.

Subsequently, it was revealed that the delay occurred as a result of the Bangladesh team's caterers receiving a menu with incorrect printing.

During a 2017–18 Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, an intoxicated individual recklessly drove a car onto the field, ignoring the efforts of players and officials to prevent him from doing so. This incident resulted in a major security breach.

In a crucial Women's Premier League (WPL) match, the game came to an unexpected halt when the stadium's sprinkler system suddenly turned on, drenching the outfield and resulting in a ten-minute delay in play.