In a dramatic conclusion to the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series, Mushfiqur Rahim sparked controversy by re-enacting Angelo Matthews' infamous timed out dismissal during the Tigers' celebratory moments in Chattogram. Rahim's actions came after Bangladesh secured a thrilling 2-1 series victory over their South Asian rivals, marking only their second ODI series win against Sri Lanka.
The tension between the two teams heightened as Rahim, holding his helmet, approached the presentation party following Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto receiving the series trophy. In a sarcastic gesture, Rahim gestured towards his teammates, mimicking a complaint about the strap of his helmet—a direct reference to Matthews' dismissal during last year's World Cup clash between the two sides.
Matthews had made cricket history as the first player to be given out for a timed out dismissal after failing to face his first ball within three minutes of entering the crease. The incident had left a lasting mark on the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry, evident in Rahim's provocative celebration.
This wasn't the first time the timed out conundrum resurfaced in the series. During the first T20I, Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam celebrated his dismissal of Sri Lanka's opener Avishka Fernando by pointing to his wrist—an action that reignited the simmering tensions between the teams.
Despite Bangladesh's series win, Sri Lanka managed to have the last laugh by clinching the T20I series 2-1, prompting a retaliatory celebration from the Lankan players. Shanto, expressing his disdain for the manner of Sri Lanka's celebration, suggested that the opposition was struggling to move on from the controversial dismissal incident.
Shanto addressed the media during a post-match press conference, stating, "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 outside the rules of cricket. I think they are making a fuss of it, but we are not worried about it."
The heated exchanges and provocative celebrations have reignited the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry, setting the stage for potentially intense encounters in future matches. As both teams strive for supremacy on the cricketing stage, the echoes of past controversies continue to fuel the competitive spirit between them.
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