Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was deeply regretful of his behaviour in the final over of the 6th T20I against Sri Lanka and said he will be more careful in future.
Chasing 160 for victory in the do-or-die match of the Nidahas Trophy 2018 on Friday, Bangladesh needed 12 runs in the last over to knock Sri Lanka out of the tri-series.
That’s when Isuru Udana bowled a couple of head-high bouncers, the second of which was called a no-ball by the square leg umpire before he changed his decision and that’s when Shakib lost his cool and came out on the boundary line to protest.
He even gestured Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain to walk off the field and forfeit the match, which would have disqualified them from the tournament and Sri Lanka would have sealed their place in the final.
The whole team gathered on the boundary line and protested with Shakib, while the players on the field were also involved in heated arguments.
One of the Sri Lankan players even pushed a Bangladeshi substitute fielder on the field as he was serving water to Mahmudullah and Rubel.
Better sense finally prevailed after the Bangladesh support staff, led by coach Courtney Walsh, asked the players to resume the match while Shakib was told to return to the dressing room.
Mahmudullah smashed the next ball for a boundary, followed it up with a couple of runs off the next ball. He then dispatched the fifth ball over deep square leg for a maximum, leading to massive celebrations in the Bangladesh camp.
Mahmudullah, who stood in as captain for Bangladesh in the absence of Shakib in the previous two games, remained unbeaten on 43 from 18 balls with three fours and two sixes as Bangladesh reached the target with 2 wickets and 1 ball to spare and set up the final of the tri-series against India on Sunday.
However, Shakib apologized for his behaviour after the game and said he will be more careful in future.
“You can’t expect more than that in a T20 game, so much excitement, emotion. Credit goes to SL, losing five early wickets. We kept our nerves in the end. I knew I was not 100% as far as batting is concerned. We always had healthy competition in the ground, but outside, we are friends.
“Emotions take over, I need to be careful as a leader of a team, I will be careful next time,” Shakib said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Here’s what Man of the Match – Mahmudullah said:
“One of my best innings. when Shakib came into the team, that was a big boost. Players were eager to do well today. My plan was to strike the ball as hard as I can. To see the ball properly and try to hit accordingly. I was quite nervous (in the last few overs). When I and Shakib were there, I was at ease but Shakib’s wicket put pressure on me. Other guys came up to me and believed that we’ll do it. The confusion was that the ball (Mustafizur’s wicket ball) would be the first bumper of the over but it’s in the past now, so let’s forget it.”
