Colombo, Sri Lanka – An unusual interruption brought a halt to the high-stakes ICC Women's World Cup match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today, as a swarm of insects invaded the pitch. The incident led to a 15-minute suspension of play, with players temporarily leaving the field while officials worked to address the situation.

The disruption occurred during India's innings, with the insects causing visible discomfort to both batters and fielders. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana was seen in discussion with the umpires regarding the issue. In a moment that added a touch of levity to the intense rivalry, Sana took it upon herself to combat the bugs, wielding a can of insect spray in an attempt to clear the area. Her efforts, however, proved largely ineffective.

"Speaking to Sana as well. Kim Cotton, the fourth umpire, saying to the players, come off the field. And the reason they're coming off the field is that we are going to do a little bit of fumigation," Australia's Mel Jones said while commentating.

Ultimately, the umpires decided to halt the game, and players were asked to leave the field. Personnel wearing respirators and carrying fogging machines entered the field to fumigate the affected areas. Commentators and fans alike expressed their amusement at the bizarre scenes, a rare sight in international cricket.

It was confirmed that no overs were lost due to the stoppage, with the time being made up by shortening the innings break. Despite the fumigation efforts, some bugs persisted upon the resumption of play. Sneh Rana was seen swatting away insects, indicating the problem wasn't entirely resolved. Play was halted once again in the 38th over when a bug flew into Rameen Shamim's eye.

Recent heavy rains in Colombo are believed to have contributed to the surge in insect activity, creating ideal breeding conditions. The tropical climate of Sri Lanka can sometimes lead to such unexpected interruptions.

The match between India and Pakistan is always highly anticipated, and this encounter was no different. Prior to the match, India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur continued the 'no-handshake' policy that has become customary between the two nations, a decision mirroring the actions of the men's teams. Pakistan won the toss and elected to field.

India has historically dominated the head-to-head record against Pakistan in women's ODIs, winning all 11 previous encounters. Despite the unusual circumstances, both teams remained focused on the game after the restart.