Sri Lankan pace bowler Isuru Udana had an unexpected encounter during a match of Lanka Premier League when a snake was seen crawling on the ground right near him on Sunday in the 15th match of the tournament between Jaffna Kings and Kandy.

While the play has been interrupted many a time in cricket due to the arrival of an animal, bird or fan, snake sighting is rare but not in LPL. This is the second time during the league that a snake was sighted.

The first such incident was recorded during the second match of the tournament between Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings.

Read: India-Pakistan clash among nine World Cup fixture changes

The snake was seen crawling on the ground right near Udana who is playing as Kandy’s pacer.

In a video making rounds on social media, the pacer is seen suffering a scare after seeing the snake slithering near him.

Udana almost stepped on the snake that had entered the ground when he was returning to his fielding. However, it seems one of his teammates made him aware and the pacer rushed to safety.

He moved away from the snake and crouched on the field. Minutes later, another sighting happened outside the boundary line.

It is pertinent to mention that Sri Lanka is set to host the second leg of the Men’s Asia Cup 2023 after India refused to play in Pakistan.

The country will also host three-match One-Day International series between Pakistan and Afghanistan in August.

“The two teams will play the first two matches in Hambantota on 22 and 24 before they travel to Colombo for the final ODI on 26,” said the Pakistan Cricket Board in a statement.