The Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh World Cup 2023 match held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will be remembered as one of the most contentious encounters in the history of the tournament. The game featured heated moments from the start, including verbal confrontations between Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis and Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, as well as intense stare-downs between Charith Asalanka and the Bangladesh bowlers. However, the match reached its boiling point when Sri Lanka’s all-rounder, Angelo Mathews, was given out for being ‘timed out’ in the 25th over, making him the first cricketer in international cricket history to face this decision.
The controversial timed out decision raised several questions, such as the accuracy of the umpires’ call, the specifics of the timed out rule, and whether Shakib should have retracted his appeal. These questions triggered a never-ending debate and fueled anger within the Sri Lankan camp. Mathews expressed his frustration by tossing his helmet and gloves upon entering the dugout, while captain Kusal Mendis and coach Chris Silverwood watched in disbelief.
In an attempt to clarify the rule, the umpires provided explanations, but Mathews remained unconvinced. He argued that he had returned to the crease within the stipulated two-minute timeframe and cited a broken helmet strap as a safety equipment malfunction.
The tensions escalated when Sri Lanka took the field, with the team giving Shakib a spirited reception as he walked out to bat. Mathews further stoked the fire by signaling a “time out” gesture with his wrist when Shakib was dismissed. The atmosphere remained charged well beyond the match’s conclusion, which ultimately favored Bangladesh.
However, what followed after the match was equally astonishing. As Bangladesh secured victory through leg byes in the 42nd over, the Sri Lankan players, after shaking hands with the umpires, refused to exchange handshakes with the Bangladesh batsmen, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Towhid Hridoy, as is customary after a cricket match. The Sri Lankan players left the field without the traditional post-match pleasantries, a departure from the norms of the game. Notably, there were no attempts from the Bangladesh camp to alleviate the situation. Nevertheless, the support staff from both sides did engage in handshakes.
The Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh World Cup 2023 match will undoubtedly go down as a historic moment filled with controversies, leaving fans, pundits, and players divided on the decisions made during the game. The cricketing world now awaits further developments and official statements regarding these events.
