Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka: The Drama Continues

The current Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka T20I series is getting interesting as the series is currently standing at 1-1 with one game still to play. Over the years, we have seen plenty of close encounters between the two teams across all formats.

The rivalry in the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka series has always been intense and we have seen some moments when these two teams play. Some of the moments include that famous Naagin Dance rivalry, Angelo Mathews’ getting timed out, Dasun Shanaka’s statement on Bangladesh’s lack of quality bowlers, etc.

Today, we will highlight some of the moments that happened in the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka games over the years. Especially that Naagin Dance rivalry moment and its origin.

Drama continues in Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka T20Is

The drama continued between the newly formed rivals over the years as Sri Lankan players didn’t seemed to be pleased with umpires’ decision of giving not out to Soumya Sarkar. During the run-chase, Binura Fernando bowled the first ball of the 4^th over. The on-field umpires thought Sarkar had knicked the ball and gave him out caught behind.

Sarkar took a review straight away and in the replay, there was a clear spike but it was when the ball passed the bat. The 3^rd umpire gives a decision in Sarkar’s favour as he thought there is a clear daylight between the bat and the ball.

Sri Lankan were not happy with the decision and they talked to the umpires about this as well. But eventually, the umpires decision should be respected and Sarkar survives. The incident ignites the drama in the series and we have seen some of the famous rivalry moment between the teams before as well. Let’s highlight some of them in detail.

Origin of Naagin Dance in Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka games

The battle between the two teams is there to see for everyone. Just like India-Pakistan, we can call Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka an arch-rivalry in world cricket. One of the biggest moments that happened between the two teams was the Naagin Dance rivalry.

The origin of this moment has its roots in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2016 season. In a BPL 2016 game, Bangladeshi bowler Nazmul Islam Apu did a snake dance celebration after taking a wicket. Nazmul has done it quite a few times as it seems to be his trademark celebration after taking a wicket.

In February 2018, Nazmul Islam Apu made his T20I debut for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka. In that game, he repeated that celebration after taking a wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka. Along with Nazmul, his teammates also joined him in doing that same move to celebrate.

Naagin Dance ignited in Nidahas Trophy 2018

A month later after that above match, the two teams again locked horns against each other in Nidahas Trophy Tri-Series. In that Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka game, Mushfiqur Rahim played an outstanding knock of 72* runs off 35 balls to win the game for the team. He becomes the player of the match and in celebration, he pulls out that snake dance or you can say Naagin Dance.

In the 6^th game of that Tri-Series, Bangladesh met Sri Lanka again in a nail-biting clash. Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah Riyad won the game for the team when 6 runs needed off 2 balls. He hit a six and celebrated in that same fashion just like Mushfiqur.

Naagin Dance – an official dance move in Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka games

Since then, Naagin Dance has become a trademark to describe any Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match/series. The moment ignited quite a few times whenever the two teams played in the Asia Cup, World Cups, and in any bilateral series. The last time it ignites in an ICC ODI World Cup 2023 game between the two teams in Delhi. In that game, the fans in the stand started doing Naagin Dance even before the game started.

An X (earlier known as Twitter) user once wrote on the platform that Naagin Dance should be declared as an official dance move in Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka matches. A few other rivalry moments happened between the two teams. Let’s see a few of them.

Angelo Mathews given timed-out after Shakib’s appeal

Another unusual incident happened when Angelo Mathews was timed out by the umpires. In a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Bangladeshi captain Shakib al Hasan appealed for a time-out after Angelo Mathews took a while to come to the crease after the wicket fell.

In the end, Mathews was given timed out just because he forgot to bring a helmet. A lot of talk happened about the sportsmanship of the Bangladesh team. Also, Mathews, after that incident happened has said still enough time left to be given out in that fashion. So this was also a question that needs to be asked. That incident also ignites the fire between the players of both teams against each other.

Shanaka’s statement on Bangladesh’s lack of quality bowlers

Before a virtual qualifier Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka game in the Asia Cup 2022, Sri Lanka’s then-captain Dasun Shanaka stated that Bangladesh is a slightly easier opponent than Afghanistan. He also said Bangladesh doesn’t have quality bowlers except Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib al Hasan.

In that statement’s response, Bangladesh’s team director, Khaled Mahmud said Sri Lanka didn’t have any world-class bowlers at all. Sri Lanka won that game and knocked Bangladesh out of the Asia Cup 2022. And again in celebration, they did the famous Naagin Dance and Bangladesh didn’t find it pleasing.

Conclusion

A few more rivalry incidents happened between the two teams over the years. But we can’t talk about all of them in one article.

This ongoing series will be the test of the characters of both teams. We have already seen a close game in the first T20I where Sri Lanka won the game by 3 runs. In the 2^nd game, Bangladesh made a comeback and chased down a target of 166 quite easily in the end.

The series will also be seen as the preparation of an all-important ICC WT20 2024. And who knows, maybe we can see Naagin Dance celebration from either of the sides in this series as well. Let’s wait and see.

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