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Cricket has always been a sport that thrives on intense rivalries, passionate battles, and memorable moments. The recent T20 series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was no exception as the Sri Lankan players celebrated their series victory in a cheeky manner, poking fun at Bangladesh over a controversial incident involving Angelo Mathews.
The rollercoaster T20I series
The three-match T20 series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka proved to be a roller-coaster ride for fans, with nail-biting encounters and twists at every turn. The first match saw Sri Lanka emerge victorious by a slender margin of 3 runs, showcasing the competitive spirit between the two teams. Bangladesh retaliated in the second T20, winning convincingly by eight wickets, setting the stage for a thrilling series decider.
Sri Lanka’s dominance in the decider
The third T20I witnessed an exceptional performance from the Sri Lankan side as they outplayed the hosts in both batting and bowling departments. The Islanders’ comprehensive victory in the final game secured the series (2-1) and provided the players with an opportunity to celebrate their success in a unique way.
The timed out celebration by Angelo Mathews and other Sri Lanka players
After the final match, during the customary trophy pose, Sri Lankan players couldn’t resist a playful dig at their Bangladeshi counterparts. The cricketers tapped their wrists with their fingers in a lighthearted manner, signalling the infamous ‘timed out’ dismissal that involved Mathews in the ODI World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh.
Here’s the video:
Timed Out celebration by Sri Lanka team! #BANvSL#timeout #Bangladesh #SriLanka #t20i pic.twitter.com/xA31sNd657
— RaFi uL 🇧🇩 (@DMRAFI0) March 10, 2024
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The background of the ‘timed out’ gesture
The ‘timed out’ celebration had a deeper connection to a controversial incident involving Mathews during the ODI World Cup 2023 where the all-rounder struggled with a defective helmet and arrived late on the field during a crucial match against Bangladesh. Despite the circumstances, opposition skipper Shakib Al Hasan went ahead with the appeal, resulting in Mathews being timed out, The incident had sparked a huge controversy back then.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s reaction
In response to the cheeky celebration, Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his displeasure. Shanto emphasized that there was no need to handle the situation aggressively, stating that the Sri Lankan team seemed to be lingering on the ‘timed out’ dismissal incident. He urged them to move on and focus on the present, highlighting that Bangladesh played within the rules of cricket to get Mathews out in World Cup.
“There is nothing to handle aggressively when it comes to this. I think they are yet to move on from the timed-out dismissal. They should move on and stay in the present since we didn’t do anything which outside the rules of cricket. I think they are making a fuss of it, but we are not worried about it,” said Shanto.
